Ask Difference

Give vs. Grant — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on March 22, 2024
Give implies a voluntary transfer without compensation, while grant often involves a formal agreement or fulfillment of conditions.
Give vs. Grant — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Give and Grant

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Key Differences

Give is a broad term that refers to the act of voluntarily transferring something to someone without expecting compensation. This action can be motivated by generosity, love, affection, or the desire to help. Giving can involve physical items, emotional support, or even intangible gifts like advice or rights. On the other hand, grant typically refers to giving something, often of a formal or legal nature, based on certain qualifications or conditions. Grants are commonly associated with financial aid, permissions, or rights given by organizations, governments, or individuals to others who meet specific criteria.
While giving is a general act that encompasses a wide range of transactions, from personal gifts between friends and family to charitable donations, granting is more structured and often involves a formal process. For example, organizations grant funds to projects or individuals that align with their goals, and governments grant licenses to those who fulfill the required conditions. This distinction highlights the more conditional nature of grants compared to the often unconditional nature of giving.
In the context of relationships, giving is a fundamental component, fostering connections and goodwill through acts of kindness and generosity. In contrast, granting can also strengthen relationships but does so within a framework of achievement, merit, or legal agreement. For instance, a grant from an institution can create a bond based on mutual interests and goals, while personal giving nurtures a relationship on an emotional level.
The motivations behind giving and granting can also differ. Giving is driven by a desire to benefit the recipient, with or without a personal relationship. Meanwhile, the act of granting is usually motivated by the recipient's fulfillment of specific criteria or objectives, such as educational achievements for scholarship grants or project proposals for research funding.
Both giving and granting play vital roles in society, but they operate within different paradigms. Giving is more about personal or immediate responses to needs and desires, fostering social bonds and supporting individuals directly. Granting, while also supportive, functions within a structured framework aiming to achieve broader or more specific goals, often with a focus on long-term impacts.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

Voluntarily transferring something without expectation of compensation.
Giving based on qualifications or conditions.

Nature

Unconditional and broad.
Conditional and often formal.

Common Associations

Personal relationships, charity.
Financial aid, permissions, legal rights.

Motivation

Generosity, affection, help.
Achievement, merit, fulfillment of conditions.

Process

Informal and spontaneous.
Structured and requires fulfillment of criteria.

Impact

Immediate and emotional connection.
Long-term and based on mutual interests/goals.

Examples

Gifts between friends, charitable donations.
Scholarships, research funding, licenses.

Compare with Definitions

Give

To offer something as a gift or contribution.
They give their time freely to volunteer at the shelter.

Grant

To bestow something, especially formally or according to a process.
The foundation granted her scholarship for her studies abroad.

Give

To provide or supply something.
The teacher gives attention to each student's needs.

Grant

To provide, especially as a means of assistance.
The government granted tax relief to the affected areas.

Give

To convey or transmit.
Giving advice is easier than applying it.

Grant

To give or award something based on fulfillment of specific criteria.
The agency granted funding for the community project.

Give

To present voluntarily and without expecting compensation.
She decided to give her old books to the local library.

Grant

To allow or concede something as valid.
The court granted the request for a new trial.

Give

To make a gift or donation to someone.
He gives to charity every month.

Grant

To give or confer officially.
The university granted him an honorary degree.

Give

Freely transfer the possession of (something) to (someone)
He gave the papers back
The cheque given to the jeweller proved worthless
She gave him presents and clothes

Grant

To allow or consent to the fulfillment of (something requested)
Grant permission to speak frankly.
Grant a request.

Give

Cause or allow (someone or something) to have or experience (something); provide with
You gave me such a fright
This leaflet gives our opening times

Grant

To give or confer officially or formally
Grant voting rights to citizens.
Grant diplomatic immunity.

Give

Carry out or perform (a specified action)
He gave the counter a polish
I gave a bow

Grant

To transfer (property) by a deed.

Give

Yield as a product or result
Milk is sometimes added to give a richer cheese

Grant

To concede; acknowledge
I grant that your plan is ingenious, but you still will not find many backers.

Give

Concede (something) as valid or deserved in respect of (someone)
Give him his due

Grant

The act of granting.

Give

State or put forward (information or argument)
He did not give his name

Grant

Something granted, especially a giving of funds for a specific purpose
Federal grants for medical research.

Give

Alter in shape under pressure rather than resist or break
That chair doesn't give

Grant

The document or provision in a document by which a grant is made.

Give

Capacity to bend or alter in shape under pressure
Plastic pots that have enough give to accommodate the vigorous roots

Grant

One of several tracts of land in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont originally granted to an individual or a group.

Give

To make a present of
We gave her flowers for her birthday.

Grant

(ditransitive) to give (permission or wish)
He was granted permission to attend the meeting.
The genie granted him three wishes

Give

To place in the hands of; pass
Give me the scissors.

Grant

(ditransitive) To bestow or confer, with or without compensation, particularly in answer to prayer or request; to give.en

Give

To deliver in exchange or recompense; pay
Gave five dollars for the book.

Grant

(transitive) To agree with (someone) on (something); to accept (something) for the sake of argument; to admit to (someone) that (something) is true.

Give

To let go for a price; sell
Gave the used car away for two thousand dollars.

Grant

(intransitive) To assent; to consent.

Give

To administer
Give him some cough medicine.

Grant

The act of granting; a bestowing or conferring; concession; allowance; permission.

Give

To convey by a physical action
Gave me a punch in the nose.

Grant

The yielding or admission of something in dispute.

Give

To inflict as punishment
Was given life imprisonment for the crime.

Grant

The thing or property granted; a gift; a boon.
I got a grant from the government to study archeology in Egypt.

Give

To bestow, especially officially; confer
The Bill of Rights gives us freedom of speech.

Grant

(law) A transfer of property by deed or writing; especially, an appropriation or conveyance made by the government.
A grant of land or of money

Give

To accord or tender to another
Give him your confidence.

Grant

The deed or writing by which such a transfer is made.

Give

To put temporarily at the disposal of
Gave them the cottage for a week.

Grant

(informal) An application for a grant monetary boon to aid research or the like.

Give

To entrust to another, usually for a specified reason
Gave me the keys for safekeeping.

Grant

To give over; to make conveyance of; to give the possession or title of; to convey; - usually in answer to petition.
Grant me the place of this threshing floor.

Give

To communicate, convey, or offer for conveyance
Give him my best wishes. Give us the latest news.

Grant

To bestow or confer, with or without compensation, particularly in answer to prayer or request; to give.
Wherefore did God grant me my request.

Give

To endure the loss of; sacrifice
Gave her son to the war.
Gave her life for her country.

Grant

To admit as true what is not yet satisfactorily proved; to yield belief to; to allow; to yield; to concede.
Grant that the Fates have firmed by their decree.

Give

To devote or apply completely
Gives herself to her work.

Grant

To assent; to consent.

Give

To furnish or contribute
Gave their time to help others.

Grant

The act of granting; a bestowing or conferring; concession; allowance; permission.

Give

To offer in good faith; pledge
Give me your word.

Grant

The yielding or admission of something in dispute.

Give

To allot as a portion or share.

Grant

The thing or property granted; a gift; a boon.

Give

To bestow (a name, for example).

Grant

A transfer of property by deed or writing; especially, an appropriation or conveyance made by the government; as, a grant of land or of money; also, the deed or writing by which the transfer is made.

Give

To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign.

Grant

Any monetary aid

Give

To award as due
Gave us first prize.

Grant

The act of providing a subsidy

Give

To emit or utter
Gave a groan.
Gave a muted response.

Grant

(law) a transfer of property by deed of conveyance

Give

To submit for consideration, acceptance, or use
Give an opinion.
Give an excuse.

Grant

Scottish painter; cousin of Lytton Strachey and member of the Bloomsbury Group (1885-1978)

Give

To proffer to another
Gave the toddler my hand.

Grant

United States actor (born in England) who was the elegant leading man in many films (1904-1986)

Give

To perform for an audience
Give a recital.

Grant

18th President of the United States; commander of the Union armies in the American Civil War (1822-1885)

Give

To present to view
Gave the sign to begin.

Grant

A contract granting the right to operate a subsidiary business;
He got the beer concession at the ball park

Give

To offer as entertainment
Give a dinner party.

Grant

A right or privilege that has been granted

Give

To propose as a toast.

Grant

Let have;
Grant permission
Mandela was allowed few visitors in prison

Give

To be a source of; afford
His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.

Grant

Give on the basis of merit;
Funds are granted to qualified researchers

Give

To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition)
The draft gave me a cold.

Grant

Be willing to concede;
I grant you this much

Give

To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase
You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.

Grant

Allow to have;
Grant a privilege

Give

To yield or produce
Cows give milk.

Grant

Bestow, especially officially;
Grant a degree
Give a divorce
This bill grants us new rights

Give

To bring forth or bear
Trees that give fruit.

Grant

Give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another

Give

To produce as a result of calculation
5 × 12 gives 60.

Grant

Transfer by deed;
Grant land

Give

To manifest or show
Gives promise of brilliance.
Gave evidence of tampering.

Give

To carry out (a physical movement)
Give a wink.
Give a start.

Give

To permit one to have or take
Gave us an hour to finish.

Give

To take an interest to the extent of
"My dear, I don't give a damn" (Margaret Mitchell).

Give

To make gifts or donations
Gives generously to charity.

Give

To yield to physical force
The sail gave during the storm.

Give

To collapse from force or pressure
The roof gave under the weight of the snow.

Give

To yield to change
Both sides will have to give on some issues.

Give

To afford access or a view; open
The doors give onto a terrace.

Give

(Slang) To be in progress; happen
What gives?.

Give

Capacity or inclination to yield under pressure.

Give

The quality or condition of resilience; springiness
"Fruits that have some give ... will have more juice than hard ones" (Elizabeth Schneider).

Give

(ditransitive) To move, shift, provide something abstract or concrete to someone or something or somewhere.

Give

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.

Give

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.

Give

To pledge.
I gave him my word that I'd protect his children.

Give

To provide (something) to (someone), to allow or afford.
I gave them permission to miss tomorrow's class.
Please give me some more time.

Give

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.

Give

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.

Give

To pass (something) into (someone's hand, etc.).
Give me your hand.
On entering the house, he gave his coat to the doorman.

Give

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.

Give

(transitive) To provide, as, a service or a broadcast.
They're giving my favorite show!

Give

(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.

Give

(intransitive) To yield or collapse under pressure or force.
One pillar gave, then more, and suddenly the whole floor pancaked onto the floor below.

Give

(intransitive) To lead (onto or into).
The master bedroom gives onto a spacious balcony.

Give

To provide a view of.
His window gave the park.

Give

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.

Give

To cause; to make; used with the infinitive.

Give

To cause (someone) to have; produce in (someone); effectuate.

Give

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.

Give

To attribute; to assign; to adjudge.

Give

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.

Give

To grant power, permission, destiny, etc. (especially to a person); to allot; to allow.

Give

(reflexive) To devote or apply (oneself).
The soldiers give themselves to plunder.
That boy is given to fits of bad temper.

Give

(obsolete) To become soft or moist.

Give

(obsolete) To shed tears; to weep.

Give

(obsolete) To have a misgiving.

Give

(slang) To be going on, to be occurring; what gives?
Your outfit is giving!

Give

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.

Give

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.

Give

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 ?

Give

To yield; to furnish; to produce; to emit; as, flint and steel give sparks.

Give

To communicate or announce, as advice, tidings, etc.; to pronounce; to render or utter, as an opinion, a judgment, a sentence, a shout, etc.

Give

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.

Give

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.

Give

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.

Give

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.

Give

To allow or admit by way of supposition.
I give not heaven for lost.

Give

To attribute; to assign; to adjudge.
I don't wonder at people's giving him to me as a lover.

Give

To excite or cause to exist, as a sensation; as, to give offense; to give pleasure or pain.

Give

To pledge; as, to give one's word.

Give

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.

Give

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.

Give

To give a gift or gifts.

Give

To yield to force or pressure; to relax; to become less rigid; as, the earth gives under the feet.

Give

To become soft or moist.

Give

To move; to recede.
Now back he gives, then rushes on amain.

Give

To shed tears; to weep.
Whose eyes do never giveBut through lust and laughter.

Give

To have a misgiving.
My mind gives ye're reservedTo rob poor market women.

Give

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.

Give

The elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

Give

Cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense;
She gave him a black eye
The draft gave me a cold

Give

Be the cause or source of;
He gave me a lot of trouble
Our meeting afforded much interesting information

Give

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

Give

Convey or reveal information;
Give one's name

Give

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

Give

Organize or be responsible for;
Hold a reception
Have, throw, or make a party
Give a course

Give

Convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture;
Throw a glance
She gave me a dirty look

Give

Give as a present; make a gift of;
What will you give her for her birthday?

Give

Bring about;
His two singles gave the team the victory

Give

Dedicate;
Give thought to
Give priority to
Pay attention to

Give

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

Give

Tell or deposit (information) knowledge;
Give a secret to the Russians
Leave your name and address here

Give

Bring about;
The trompe l'oeil-illusion establishes depth

Give

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?

Give

Emit or utter;
Give a gulp
Give a yelp

Give

Endure the loss of;
He gave his life for his children
I gave two sons to the war

Give

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

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

Give (as medicine);
I gave him the drug

Give

Give or convey physically;
She gave him First Aid
I gave him a punch in the nose

Give

Bestow;
Give hommage
Render thanks

Give

Bestow, especially officially;
Grant a degree
Give a divorce
This bill grants us new rights

Give

Move in order to make room for someone for something;
The park gave way to a supermarket
`Move over,' he told the crowd

Give

Give food to;
Feed the starving children in India
Don't give the child this tough meat

Give

Contribute to some cause;
I gave at the office

Give

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

Give

Estimate the duration or outcome of something;
He gave the patient three months to live
I gave him a very good chance at success

Give

Execute and deliver;
Give bond

Give

Deliver in exchange or recompense;
I'll give you three books for four CDs

Give

Afford access to;
The door opens to the patio
The French doors give onto a terrace

Give

Present to view;
He gave the sign to start

Give

Perform for an audience;
Pollini is giving another concert in New York

Give

Be flexible under stress of physical force;
This material doesn't give

Give

Propose;
He gave the first of many toasts at the birthday party

Give

Legal use: accord by verdict;
Give a decision for the plaintiff

Give

Manifest or show;
This student gives promise of real creativity
The office gave evidence of tampering

Give

Offer in good faith;
He gave her his word

Give

Submit for consideration, judgment, or use;
Give one's opinion
Give an excuse

Give

Guide or direct, as by behavior of persuasion;
You gave me to think that you agreed with me

Give

Allow to have or take;
I give you two minutes to respond

Give

Inflict as a punishment;
She gave the boy a good spanking
The judge gave me 10 years

Give

Occur;
What gives?

Give

Proffer (a body part);
She gave her hand to her little sister

Common Curiosities

What is a grant?

A grant is a sum of money or other resources given by an organization or government to an individual or group for a specific purpose, often based on meeting certain criteria.

Is giving always related to physical items?

No, giving can also involve non-physical items like support, advice, or rights.

How do giving and granting differ?

Giving is a broad, often unconditional act, while granting is more formal and conditional, typically requiring the recipient to meet specific qualifications.

Is a scholarship a form of grant?

Yes, scholarships are a form of grant awarded to students based on various criteria, such as academic achievement or financial need, to support their education.

How is the process of giving different from granting in a corporate setting?

In a corporate setting, giving might involve donations or sponsorships as part of social responsibility initiatives, while granting usually follows a formal application and review process aligned with strategic goals.

Why do organizations grant money or resources?

Organizations grant money or resources to support projects, individuals, or causes that align with their goals and objectives, often aiming to achieve social, educational, or scientific advancements.

Can a gift be considered a grant?

While gifts are generally given without conditions, a grant is more specific and usually involves criteria to be met, making them distinct in nature.

How can giving impact society?

Giving can foster a sense of community, encourage generosity, and provide immediate support to individuals in need, contributing to a more compassionate society.

Can the act of giving influence personal relationships?

Yes, giving can strengthen personal relationships by demonstrating care, generosity, and a willingness to support others, enhancing emotional bonds.

Can an individual grant something?

Yes, individuals can grant things like permissions or rights, often within a personal or professional context.

How does granting affect the recipient?

Receiving a grant can provide essential resources, recognition, and opportunities for advancement or development in a recipient's field or cause.

What does it mean to give something?

To give means to voluntarily transfer something to someone without expecting anything in return, motivated by generosity or a desire to help.

What are common criteria for granting funds to projects?

Criteria may include the project's relevance to the grantor's objectives, its feasibility, potential impact, and the capability of the individuals or teams involved.

What legal implications are associated with grants?

Grants may involve contracts or agreements outlining the use of the awarded resources and the obligations of the recipient, carrying legal implications for compliance and reporting.

What motivates individuals or organizations to give or grant resources?

Motivations include altruism, strategic interests, legal obligations, social responsibility, and a desire to contribute to positive change or development in a specific field or community.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj 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.
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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