gift

noun \ ˈgift \

|Updated on: 11 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: gift in a Sentence

Definition of gift

1 : a notable capacity, talent, or endowment

2 : something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation

3 : the act, right, or power of giving

See gift defined for English-language learners

See gift defined for kids

Examples of gift in a Sentence

The money was a gift, not a loan.
She considers her voice a God-given gift.

Recent Examples of gift from the Web

Gone fishing What’s the manly version of a spa gift set?

— hannah kirby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "8 Father's Day gift ideas that can be found in Milwaukee suburbs," 5 June 2018
The delay to proceedings didn't look to have an effect on Germany, who went in front after 11 minutes courtesy of a gift from goalkeeper Jorg Siebenhandl.

— SI.com, "Austria 2-1 Germany: Spirited Second Half Performance From Hosts Stuns World Cup Holders in Friendly," 2 June 2018
The same could be said of this $200 million gift to Hayward Field, except that the change will be a negative one for track and field in the long run.

— ken goe, OregonLive.com, "Tinker Hatfield blasts Hayward Field design adopted by the University of Oregon," 1 June 2018
From Amy Schumer discussing tampons on 'SNL' to Meghan Markle asking for donations of menstrual products in lieu of gifts for the royal wedding, the topic seems to be leaking into the public consciousness.

— cass bliss, Seventeen, "What Trans & Non-Binary Menstruators Should Know About Periods," 1 June 2018
All of these gifts are monogrammable—either via embroidery or engraving—and all but one clocks in at well under $200 (and even the outlier is a measly 20 bucks over).

— yang-yi goh, GQ, "15 Groomsmen Gifts Your Friends Will Actually Appreciate," 31 May 2018
But one of the most popular baby shower gifts at DoD, or any other federal office pregnancy fete, is personal days.

— Washington Post, "The child-free life: Why so many American women are deciding not to have kids," 31 May 2018
Back in April, Kensington Palace announced that in lieu of gifts, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would like well-wishers to donate to a charity instead.

— madeleine aggeler, The Cut, "What’s Happening to All of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Wedding Gifts?," 31 May 2018
Federal prosecutors had argued that the restaurateur, Harendra Singh, provided Mr. Mangano, 56, with a stream of gifts, including expensive chairs, a luxury watch and subsidized vacations.

— colin moynihan, New York Times, "Mangano Corruption Trial Ends in Mistrial on Long Island," 31 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gift.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of gift

Middle English, from Old Norse, something given, talent; akin to Old English giefan to give

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

gift Synonyms

Synonyms

aptitude, bent, endowment, faculty, flair, genius, head, knack, talent;

Near Antonyms

disability, handicap, inability, incapacity;

shortcoming, weakness;

ear, eye, mind, nose;

feel, hang, instinct, touch, way;

capability, competence, facility, proficiency, skill;

capacity, potential, power;

forte, specialty;

Synonym Discussion of gift

gift, faculty, aptitude, bent, talent, genius, knack mean a special ability for doing something. gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

- the gift of singing beautifully

faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

- a faculty for remembering names

aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

- a mechanical aptitude

bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

- a family with an artistic bent

talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

- has enough talent to succeed

genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

- has no great genius for poetry

knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

- the knack of getting along

gift

verb

Definition of gift

gifted; gifting; gifts

transitive verb

1 : to endow with some power, quality, or attribute

She's been gifted with a beautiful voice.

2 a : to make a gift of

It makes an excellent choice whether you're gifting one bottle for the honeymoon or a case to be savored for years, or even decades, to come.
—Robert Taylor

b : present

gifted her with flowers

In this, her ninth novel, she has succeeded in gifting us with a story that will stay with us for a long time.
—Dorothy Rochmis

—

giftee

play \ˌgif-ˈtē\ noun

See gift defined for English-language learners

Examples of gift in a Sentence

gifted with an uncanny ability to persuade people to do things they ordinarily wouldn't

Recent Examples of gift from the Web

Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius suffered a concussion shortly before the blunders which gifted Real Madrid their Champions League final crown last month, two Boston doctors who examined the shotstopper revealed on Monday.

— chicago tribune, chicagotribune.com, "Karius suffered concussion in Champions League final - doctors," 5 June 2018
Real Madrid ran out 3-1 winners over Liverpool in Kiev, largely thanks to two goalkeeping howlers from the German, which gifted Madrid two of its three goals.

— SI.com, "Hospital: Liverpool GK Karius Suffered Concussion During UCL Final," 4 June 2018
According to Metro, the Queen knew Harry and Meghan would need to get away from it all, and thusly gifted them another cottage (one can never have too many).

— krystin arneson, Glamour, "The Queen Just Gifted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle the Vacation House of Dreams," 3 June 2018
Her father gifted her the first in a long line of corgis, Dookie, in 1933.

— eliana dockterman, Time, "Elizabeth Didn’t Expect to Be Queen. Here’s How It Happened," 1 June 2018
At the time of the 1984 exhibition, Indiana gifted his painting The Figure Five and sculpture Five to the museum.

— elizabeth botten, Smithsonian, "Archives Reveal Touching Stories on the Life of Robert Indiana, the Man Who Invented “LOVE”," 31 May 2018
What's more, Smiley gifted Patrick a car on Friday.

— CBS News, "Photo of Alabama teen catching the bus to graduation goes viral," 28 May 2018
Three years earlier, the president of Arizona Raft Adventures gifted the university a river permit on the San Juan.

— anna callaghan, Outside Online, "The First Licensed Native Guide in the Grand Canyon," 24 May 2018
Ahead of Sunday's match, the Timbers gifted Abed a personalized jersey with his name and the No.

— jamie goldberg, OregonLive.com, "Iraqi boy relishes chance to meet Timbers players, attend rivalry match while seeking medical help in Portland," 14 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of gift

see ¹gift

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1550

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

gift Synonyms

GIFT

abbreviation

Definition of GIFT

gamete intrafallopian transfer; gamete intrafallopian tube transfer

GIFT Defined for English Language Learners

gift

noun

Definition of gift for English Language Learners

: something that is given to another person or to a group or organization
: a special ability

gift

verb

Definition of gift for English Language Learners

: to present (someone) with a gift

GIFT Defined for Kids

gift

noun \ ˈgift \

Definition of gift for Students

1 : a special ability : talent

a gift for music

2 : something given : present

I gave my mother her birthday gift.

Medical Dictionary

GIFT

abbreviation

medical Definition of GIFT

gamete intrafallopian transfer; gamete intrafallopian tube transfer

Law Dictionary

gift

noun

legal Definition of gift

1 : an intentional and gratuitous transfer of real or personal property by a donor with legal capacity who actually or constructively delivers the property to the donee with the intent of giving up dominion over the property and investing it in the donee who accepts it; broadly : a voluntary transfer of property without compensation — see also delivery — compare donation, sale

— class gift

: a usually testamentary gift of a sum to a group of unspecified persons whose number and identity and share of the gift will be determined sometime in the future (as at the death of the donor)

— completed gift

: a gift in which the dominion and control of the property is placed beyond the donor's reach

— gift causa mortis \-ˈkȯ-zə-ˈmȯr-tis, -ˈkau̇-sä-ˈmȯr-tēs\ plural gifts causa mortis

: a gift of especially personal property made in contemplation of impending death that is delivered with the intent that the gift take effect only in the event of the donor's death and that it be revoked in the event of survival — compare donation inter vivos and donation mortis causa at donation, gift inter vivos and testamentary gift in this entry

— gift inter vivos \-ˈin-tər-ˈvī-vōs; -ˈin-ter-ˈvē-vōs, -ˈwē-wōs\ plural gifts inter vivos

: a gift made during the lifetime of the donor and delivered with the intent of surrendering immediately and irrevocably dominion and control over the property — compare donation inter vivos at donation, gift causa mortis and testamentary gift in this entry

— gift over plural gifts over

: a gift especially by will of property that takes effect upon the termination or failure of a preceding estate (as a life estate) in the property

— manual gift

: a gift especially under the civil law of Louisiana made of a movable corporeal object by actual delivery and involving no formalities

— split gift

: a gift made by a spouse to a third person that for purposes of gift tax may be considered as given one-half by each spouse to take advantage of tax avoidance devices (as the annual exclusion)

— substitutional gift \ˌsəb-stə-ˈtü-shə-nəl-, -ˈtyü-\

: a gift to a legatee or devisee in substitution for another devisee or legatee who cannot take under the will (as because of death) — called also substitute gift

— testamentary gift

: a gift that does not become effective until the death of the donor; specifically : a gift made in a will — compare gift causa mortis and gift inter vivos in this entry

2 : something voluntarily transferred without compensation

3 : a transfer of property for less than adequate consideration other than in the ordinary course of business —used in the law of gift tax

Note: The amount by which the value of property so transferred exceeds the consideration paid is included in the total amount of taxable gifts made during a calendar year.