Give Definition and Meaning
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Published on May 19, 2025
Give refers to freely transfer possession of something to someone else. e.g., She likes to give books to her friends as gifts.
Table of Contents
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Give Definitions
To grant or bestow a particular status or title.
The university gave him an honorary degree.
To perform or execute an action.
The actor gave a wonderful performance.
To allow or permit a certain amount of flexibility.
This material gives a little, which makes it perfect for clothing.
To make a present of
We gave her flowers for her birthday.
To place in the hands of; pass
Give me the scissors.
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To deliver in exchange or recompense; pay
Gave five dollars for the book.
To let go for a price; sell
Gave the used car away for two thousand dollars.
To administer
Give him some cough medicine.
To convey by a physical action
Gave me a punch in the nose.
To inflict as punishment
Was given life imprisonment for the crime.
To bestow, especially officially; confer
The Bill of Rights gives us freedom of speech.
To accord or tender to another
Give him your confidence.
To put temporarily at the disposal of
Gave them the cottage for a week.
To entrust to another, usually for a specified reason
Gave me the keys for safekeeping.
To communicate, convey, or offer for conveyance
Give him my best wishes. Give us the latest news.
To endure the loss of; sacrifice
Gave her son to the war.
Gave her life for her country.
To devote or apply completely
Gives herself to her work.
To furnish or contribute
Gave their time to help others.
To offer in good faith; pledge
Give me your word.
To allot as a portion or share.
To bestow (a name, for example).
To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign.
To award as due
Gave us first prize.
To emit or utter
Gave a groan.
Gave a muted response.
To submit for consideration, acceptance, or use
Give an opinion.
Give an excuse.
To proffer to another
Gave the toddler my hand.
To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with another person.
To perform for an audience
Give a recital.
To present to view
Gave the sign to begin.
To offer as entertainment
Give a dinner party.
To propose as a toast.
To be a source of; afford
His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.
To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition)
The draft gave me a cold.
To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase
You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.
To yield or produce
Cows give milk.
To bring forth or bear
Trees that give fruit.
To produce as a result of calculation
5 × 12 gives 60.
To manifest or show
Gives promise of brilliance.
Gave evidence of tampering.
To carry out (a physical movement)
Give a wink.
Give a start.
To permit one to have or take
Gave us an hour to finish.
To take an interest to the extent of
"My dear, I don't give a damn" (Margaret Mitchell).
To make gifts or donations
Gives generously to charity.
To yield to physical force
The sail gave during the storm.
To collapse from force or pressure
The roof gave under the weight of the snow.
To yield to change
Both sides will have to give on some issues.
To afford access or a view; open
The doors give onto a terrace.
(Slang) To be in progress; happen
What gives?.
Capacity or inclination to yield under pressure.
The quality or condition of resilience; springiness
"Fruits that have some give ... will have more juice than hard ones" (Elizabeth Schneider).
(ditransitive) To move, shift, provide something abstract or concrete to someone or something or somewhere.
To transfer one's possession or holding of (something) to (someone).
I gave him my coat.
I gave my coat to the beggar.
When they asked, I gave my coat.
To make a present or gift of.
I'm going to give my wife a necklace for her birthday.
She gave a pair of shoes to her husband for their anniversary.
He gives of his energies to the organization.
To pledge.
I gave him my word that I'd protect his children.
To provide (something) to (someone), to allow or afford.
I gave them permission to miss tomorrow's class.
Please give me some more time.
To cause (a sensation or feeling) to exist in.
It gives me a lot of pleasure to be here tonight.
The fence gave me an electric shock.
My mother-in-law gives me nothing but grief.
To carry out (a physical interaction) with (something).
I want to give you a kiss.
She gave him a hug.
I'd like to give the tire a kick.
I gave the boy a push on the swing.
She gave me a wink afterwards, so I knew she was joking.
To pass (something) into (someone's hand, etc.).
Give me your hand.
On entering the house, he gave his coat to the doorman.
To cause (a disease or condition) in, or to transmit (a disease or condition) to.
My boyfriend gave me chlamydia.
He was convinced that it was his alcoholism that gave him cancer.
(transitive) To provide, as, a service or a broadcast.
They're giving my favorite show!
(ditransitive) To estimate or predict (a duration or probability) for (something).
I give it ten minutes before he gives up.
I give it a 95% chance of success.
I'll give their marriage six months.
(intransitive) To yield or collapse under pressure or force.
One pillar gave, then more, and suddenly the whole floor pancaked onto the floor below.
(intransitive) To lead (onto or into).
The master bedroom gives onto a spacious balcony.
To provide a view of.
His window gave the park.
To exhibit as a product or result; to produce; to yield.
The number of men, divided by the number of ships, gives four hundred to each ship.
To cause; to make; used with the infinitive.
To cause (someone) to have; produce in (someone); effectuate.
To allow or admit by way of supposition; to concede.
He can be bad-tempered, I'll give you that, but he's a hard worker.
To attribute; to assign; to adjudge.
To communicate or announce (advice, tidings, etc.); to pronounce or utter (an opinion, a judgment, a shout, etc.).
The umpire finally gave his decision: the ball was out.
To grant power, permission, destiny, etc. (especially to a person); to allot; to allow.
(reflexive) To devote or apply (oneself).
The soldiers give themselves to plunder.
That boy is given to fits of bad temper.
(obsolete) To become soft or moist.
(obsolete) To shed tears; to weep.
(obsolete) To have a misgiving.
(slang) To be going on, to be occurring; what gives?
Your outfit is giving!
The amount of bending that something undergoes when a force is applied to it; a tendency to yield under pressure; resilence.
This chair doesn't have much give.
There is no give in his dogmatic religious beliefs.
To bestow without receiving a return; to confer without compensation; to impart, as a possession; to grant, as authority or permission; to yield up or allow.
For generous lords had rather give than pay.
To yield possesion of; to deliver over, as property, in exchange for something; to pay; as, we give the value of what we buy.
What shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?
To yield; to furnish; to produce; to emit; as, flint and steel give sparks.
To communicate or announce, as advice, tidings, etc.; to pronounce; to render or utter, as an opinion, a judgment, a sentence, a shout, etc.
To grant power or license to; to permit; to allow; to license; to commission.
It is given me once again to behold my friend.
Then give thy friend to shed the sacred wine.
To exhibit as a product or result; to produce; to show; as, the number of men, divided by the number of ships, gives four hundred to each ship.
To devote; to apply; used reflexively, to devote or apply one's self; as, the soldiers give themselves to plunder; also in this sense used very frequently in the past participle; as, the people are given to luxury and pleasure; the youth is given to study.
To set forth as a known quantity or a known relation, or as a premise from which to reason; - used principally in the passive form given.
To allow or admit by way of supposition.
I give not heaven for lost.
To attribute; to assign; to adjudge.
I don't wonder at people's giving him to me as a lover.
To excite or cause to exist, as a sensation; as, to give offense; to give pleasure or pain.
To pledge; as, to give one's word.
To cause; to make; - with the infinitive; as, to give one to understand, to know, etc.
But there the duke was given to understandThat in a gondola were seen togetherLorenzo and his amorous Jessica.
To afford a view of; as, his window gave the park.
Whatsoever we employ in charitable uses during our lives, is given away from ourselves.
I fear our ears have given us the bag.
One that gives out himself Prince Florizel.
Give out you are of Epidamnum.
The Babylonians had given themselves over to all manner of vice.
He has . . . given upFor certain drops of salt, your city Rome.
I'll not state themBy giving up their characters.
To give a gift or gifts.
To yield to force or pressure; to relax; to become less rigid; as, the earth gives under the feet.
To become soft or moist.
To move; to recede.
Now back he gives, then rushes on amain.
To shed tears; to weep.
Whose eyes do never giveBut through lust and laughter.
To have a misgiving.
My mind gives ye're reservedTo rob poor market women.
To open; to lead.
This, yielding, gave into a grassy walk.
They gave back and came no farther.
The Scots battalion was enforced to give in.
This consideration may induce a translator to give in to those general phrases.
Rooms which gave upon a pillared porch.
The gloomy staircase on which the grating gave.
It would be well for all authors, if they knew when to give over, and to desist from any further pursuits after fame.
The elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
Cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense;
She gave him a black eye
The draft gave me a cold
Be the cause or source of;
He gave me a lot of trouble
Our meeting afforded much interesting information
Transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody;
I gave her my money
Can you give me lessons?
She gave the children lots of love and tender loving care
Convey or reveal information;
Give one's name
Convey, as of a compliment, regards, attention, etc.; bestow;
Don't pay him any mind
Give the orders
Give him my best regards
Pay attention
Organize or be responsible for;
Hold a reception
Have, throw, or make a party
Give a course
Convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture;
Throw a glance
She gave me a dirty look
Give as a present; make a gift of;
What will you give her for her birthday?
Bring about;
His two singles gave the team the victory
Dedicate;
Give thought to
Give priority to
Pay attention to
Give or supply;
The cow brings in 5 liters of milk
This year's crop yielded 1,000 bushels of corn
The estate renders some revenue for the family
Tell or deposit (information) knowledge;
Give a secret to the Russians
Leave your name and address here
Bring about;
The trompe l'oeil-illusion establishes depth
Leave with; give temporarily;
Can I give you my keys while I go in the pool?
Can I give you the children for the weekend?
Emit or utter;
Give a gulp
Give a yelp
Endure the loss of;
He gave his life for his children
I gave two sons to the war
Place into the hands or custody of;
Hand me the spoon, please
Turn the files over to me, please
He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers
Give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause;
She committed herself to the work of God
Give one's talents to a good cause
Consecrate your life to the church
Give (as medicine);
I gave him the drug
Give or convey physically;
She gave him First Aid
I gave him a punch in the nose
Bestow;
Give hommage
Render thanks
Bestow, especially officially;
Grant a degree
Give a divorce
This bill grants us new rights
Move in order to make room for someone for something;
The park gave way to a supermarket
`Move over,' he told the crowd
Give food to;
Feed the starving children in India
Don't give the child this tough meat
Contribute to some cause;
I gave at the office
Break down, literally or metaphorically;
The wall collapsed
The business collapsed
The dam broke
The roof collapsed
The wall gave in
The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice
Estimate the duration or outcome of something;
He gave the patient three months to live
I gave him a very good chance at success
Execute and deliver;
Give bond
Deliver in exchange or recompense;
I'll give you three books for four CDs
Afford access to;
The door opens to the patio
The French doors give onto a terrace
Present to view;
He gave the sign to start
Perform for an audience;
Pollini is giving another concert in New York
Be flexible under stress of physical force;
This material doesn't give
Propose;
He gave the first of many toasts at the birthday party
Legal use: accord by verdict;
Give a decision for the plaintiff
Manifest or show;
This student gives promise of real creativity
The office gave evidence of tampering
Offer in good faith;
He gave her his word
Submit for consideration, judgment, or use;
Give one's opinion
Give an excuse
Guide or direct, as by behavior of persuasion;
You gave me to think that you agreed with me
Allow to have or take;
I give you two minutes to respond
Inflict as a punishment;
She gave the boy a good spanking
The judge gave me 10 years
Occur;
What gives?
Consent to engage in sexual intercourse with a man;
She gave herself to many men
Proffer (a body part);
She gave her hand to her little sister
To present voluntarily without expecting something in return.
Every Christmas, he gives money to charity.
To offer information or evidence.
She gave her testimony to the court.
To yield or produce naturally.
This land gives very rich harvests.
To host or throw, as in a party.
They plan to give a reception after the wedding.
To provide a medication or treatment.
The doctor gave him a prescription for the pain.
To show or exhibit an emotion or reaction.
His face gave nothing away during the interrogation.
To concede or acknowledge defeat.
After hours of negotiation, he finally gave in.
Give Snonyms
Grant
To give or accord something legally or formally.
The foundation grants scholarships to talented students.
Yield
To produce or provide (typically a natural or agricultural product).
These fields yield enough wheat to feed the entire village.
Bestow
To confer or present as a gift or honor.
The king bestowed knighthood upon his loyal subject.
Donate
To give or contribute, typically to a charitable cause.
She donates to the wildlife fund every year.
Contribute
To give something, often in a collaborative context.
He contributed ideas during the meeting.
Allocate
To distribute resources or duties for a specific purpose.
The committee allocated funds for the health campaign.
Supply
To make something available to someone.
The company supplies office equipment to small businesses.
Provide
To make available or supply.
The program provides meals to elderly residents.
Offer
To present something for acceptance or rejection.
He offered assistance to the new neighbors.
Impart
To give something (such as knowledge) from one's self.
The teacher imparts wisdom through her lessons.
Give Idioms & Phrases
Give or take
Approximately, more or less.
The project will cost $1000, give or take.
Give it your best shot
To do something as well as you can.
You should give it your best shot at the interview.
Give rise to
To cause something to happen or exist.
Poor policies can give rise to economic problems.
Give way
To collapse or fail under pressure; also to yield to other traffic.
The old bridge might give way if the floodwaters rise.
Give the green light
To approve a project or an action.
The manager gave the green light to start the new campaign.
Give and take
Mutual concessions, cooperation, or sharing.
A successful relationship involves a lot of give and take.
Give as good as one gets
To retaliate or respond strongly.
She can give as good as she gets in arguments.
Give the devil his due
To admit the good qualities of even a bad or undeserving person.
He's not my favorite person, but I'll give the devil his due; he's a hard worker.
Give the benefit of the doubt
To believe someone's statement, without proof, even though it may seem doubtful.
I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
Give someone the cold shoulder
To intentionally ignore someone.
She gave him the cold shoulder at the party.
Give it a whirl
To try something to see if you like it or can do it.
I've never salsa danced but I'll give it a whirl.
Give up the ghost
To stop working; to break down.
My old laptop finally gave up the ghost.
Give it a rest
To stop doing something for a while.
You should give it a rest; you've been working too hard.
Give someone a piece of your mind
To speak angrily to someone about something they have done wrong.
He gave the waiter a piece of his mind.
Give the nod to
To approve or select someone or something.
The board gave the nod to the new development plan.
Give someone a taste of their own medicine
To treat someone in the way they have been treating others.
He got a taste of his own medicine when his prank was turned on him.
Give the shirt off one's back
To be extremely generous to someone in need.
He would give the shirt off his back to help you.
Give someone the boot
To dismiss someone from their job.
He was given the boot after the mishap at work.
Give someone a run for their money
To compete strongly against someone.
She'll give you a run for your money in the debate.
Give no quarter
To show no mercy or leniency.
The captain ordered his troops to give no quarter.
Give Example Sentences
Can you give me a hand with this?
I'll give you a call tomorrow.
Please give my regards to your mother.
She decided to give him another chance.
We need to give consideration to all ideas.
Let's give it another try.
The fund will give support to disaster victims.
Common Curiosities
How do we divide give into syllables?
Give is divided into syllables as: give.
How is give used in a sentence?
Give is used to indicate the action of providing or transferring something to someone. e.g., Please give me the book.
How many syllables are in give?
Give has one syllable.
What is the verb form of give?
Give itself is the base form of the verb.
What is the first form of give?
The first form of "give" is "give."
What is the root word of give?
The root word of "give" is from the Old English "giefan."
Why is it called give?
Give is called "give" from the Old English "giefan," which means to grant or bestow.
What is a stressed syllable in give?
The stressed syllable in "give" is the entire word: give.
What is the pronunciation of give?
Give is pronounced as /ɡɪv/.
What is the second form of give?
The second form of "give" is "gave."
Is give a noun or adjective?
Give is a verb.
Is give an adverb?
No, give is not an adverb.
What is the singular form of give?
Give is a verb and does not have a singular form.
Is give a vowel or consonant?
The word "give" starts with a consonant.
Is give a collective noun?
Give is not a noun; it is a verb.
Is the give term a metaphor?
"Give" can be used metaphorically in various contexts, e.g., "give someone a piece of your mind."
Is the word give a Gerund?
No, "giving" would be the gerund form of the verb "give."
What is the opposite of give?
The opposite of "give" could be considered "take" or "withhold."
Is the word “give” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Give is a verb, and it typically involves an indirect object in sentences like "Give him the book."
Which determiner is used with give?
Determiners are not typically used directly with verbs like "give."
What part of speech is give?
Give is a verb.
What is another term for give?
Another term for "give" is "bestow."
Which vowel is used before give?
There is no standard vowel used before "give;" it depends on the context of the sentence.
What is the plural form of give?
Give is a verb and does not have a plural form.
Is give an abstract noun?
No, give is a verb, not a noun.
Is give a negative or positive word?
Give is generally a positive word, associated with generosity and offering.
Is give a countable noun?
Give is not a noun; it is a verb.
Is the word give imperative?
Give can be used in the imperative mood in commands, e.g., "Give me the book."
Which preposition is used with give?
Common prepositions used with "give" include "to" and "for."
Which article is used with give?
As a verb, "give" does not typically require an article.
What is the third form of give?
The third form of "give" is "given."
Which conjunction is used with give?
Conjunctions are not specifically tied to "give;" usage depends on sentence structure.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
