given

1 of 3

adjective

giv·​en ˈgi-vən 

1

a

: particular, specified

at a given time

b

: assumed as actual or hypothetical : granted

given that all are equal before the law

2

: prone, disposed

given to swearing

3

: presented as a gift : bestowed without compensation

4

of an official document : having been executed : dated

5

: immediately present in experience

given

2 of 3

noun

: something given

especially : something taken for granted : a basic condition or assumption

It is a given that we are in an age of relentless competition.

given

3 of 3

preposition

: in view of : considering

Given what she knew about others' lives, how could she complain about her own?

—Marilyn French

Synonyms

Adjective

• accustomed
• habituated
• used
• wont

Noun

• assumption
• hypothetical
• if
• postulate
• premise
• premiss
• presumption
• presupposition
• supposition

Examples of given in a Sentence

Adjective

a quiet man not given to loud expressions of emotion

candidates for the quiz show must complete the qualifying test within a given amount of time

Noun

In our system it is a given that all are equal before the law.

it's a given that television viewers are influenced by advertising, even consciously or subconsciously

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Bing, for its part, went off the rails early on, prompting Microsoft to scale back both its personality and the number of questions users could ask it in a given conversation. —Will Oremus, Washington Post, 5 June 2023

At any given moment, 2 million to 10 million Ukrainians have been living in freezing temperatures without electricity. —Maham Javaid, Washington Post, 22 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English yiven, given "presented as a gift, freely bestowed," from past participle of given "to give entry 1"

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1879, in the meaning defined above

Preposition

1904, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing given

• be given one's card
• given a bum rap
• given name
• given over to
• given the circumstances
• given the go-ahead
• given to
• God-given
• self-given
• take (something) as given

Kids Definition

given

1 of 2 adjective

giv·​en ˈgiv-ən 

1

: prone sense 1

given to gossiping

2

: fixed sense 1b, particular

at a given time

3

: granted as true

given that we are all equal

given

2 of 2 noun

: something taken for granted : a basic condition or assumption