1
as in discussion
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue
a give-and-take about what we should do Saturday night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in negotiation
the act or practice of each side giving up something in order to reach an agreement
negotiating the terms of the deal will require some give-and-take on both sides
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in banter
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks
enjoyed the flirty give-and-take between the two romantic lead characters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of give-and-take
It was intended as a joke, but Oliver appreciated the give-and-take, and his show gave tens of thousands of dollars in charitable donations to Danbury to make the designation a reality.
—
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2025
Scientific theories about the origin of the universe often involve a vigorous give-and-take between speculation and discovery.
—Sean M. Carroll, The New York Review of Books, 31 July 2025
The normal give-and-take of a staff meeting was not his strong suit.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Indeed, instructors often understand the Socratic principle – that there needs to be an active give-and-take and back-and-forth between a teacher and a student, or between two other partners, that feeds a certain kind of productivity.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for give-and-take
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2025
Scientific theories about the origin of the universe often involve a vigorous give-and-take between speculation and discovery.
—Sean M. Carroll, The New York Review of Books, 31 July 2025
The normal give-and-take of a staff meeting was not his strong suit.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Indeed, instructors often understand the Socratic principle – that there needs to be an active give-and-take and back-and-forth between a teacher and a student, or between two other partners, that feeds a certain kind of productivity.
—John Werner, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for give-and-take
Recent Examples of Synonyms for give-and-take
Noun
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For Donohue, a one-on-one discussion with Hunt and a later meeting with his constituents further complicated his decision.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
If both polls and discussions with my friends are anything to go by, Americans feel forever locked in a state of political conflict.—
Sarah Stein Lubrano,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Trump earlier this week said India had offered to cut its tariffs on American imports to zero, while complaining that the proposal had come too late in the negotiation.—
Priyanka Salve,Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
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Hours earlier, the government announced that some 300 South Koreans who were detained in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid last Thursday on the Hyundai-LG joint factory in southern Georgia will return to Korea on a chartered flight following negotiations with the US.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This could come in the form of flirty banter, a spontaneous run-in, or perhaps someone finally confessing their crush on you.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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The show hit another peak after a mid-set lull, which Liam valiantly tried to shake off with stories, jokes, and playful crowd banter — a side of him more familiar offstage than on.—
Lily Moayeri,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The vitriol levied at uninvolved lawmakers since Wednesday's shooting has had a chilling effect on the American tradition of lawmakers' community engagement — as well as the open debate and political discourse Kirk himself espoused.—
Sasha Pezenik,
ABC News,
12 Sep. 2025
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In a democracy, ideas are tested through words and good-faith debate—never through violence.—
Alia Shoaib,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This is compromise in the modern world of media.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The logic behind his appointment is that Lecornu might be able to strike a deal with the Socialists to make the budget more palatable – the same compromise that Bayrou used to push through this year’s budget with concessions to the left.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The action flows, the badinage is fast and fun.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
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Each bus has a pair of hosts, whose badinage is corny but crowd-pleasing.—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
Noun
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There is no time limit on how long such consultations could take, and experts say the language is flexible enough to allow each member to decide how far to go in responding to armed aggression against another.—
Matt Spetalnick,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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Poland has not invoked Article 5, but by calling for Article 4 consultations—only the eighth time in NATO’s history — Warsaw made clear this is more than a one-off incident.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Though the movie is accessible to new fans, there are plenty of winks and nods for diehards who can understand what might seem, to the uninitiated, like cheesy moments—a cringeworthy English rap verse, a scene parodying the product placement in K-dramas—as self-aware jokes.—
Yvonne Kim,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
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That means having to cut jokes that don't fit his do-no-harm MO.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Give-and-take.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/give-and-take. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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