give

play

verb \ˈgiv\

Definition of give

gave

play \ˈgāv\;

given

play \ˈgi-vən\;

giving

transitive verb
1 : to make a present of give a doll to a child
2a : to grant or bestow by formal action the law gives citizens the right to voteb : to accord or yield to another gave him her confidence
3a : to put into the possession of another for his or her use gave me his phone numberb (1) : to administer as a sacrament (2) : to administer as a medicinec : to commit to another as a trust or responsibility and usually for an expressed reasond : to transfer from one's authority or custody the sheriff gave the prisoner to the wardene : to execute and deliver all employees must give bondf : to convey to another give them my regards
4a : to offer to the action of another : proffer gave her his handb : to yield (oneself) to a man in sexual intercourse
5a : to present in public performance give a concertb : to present to view or observation gave the signal to start
6 : to provide by way of entertainment give a party
7 : to propose as a toast
8a : to designate as a share or portion : allot all the earth to thee and to thy race I give — John Miltonb : to make assignment of (a name)c : to set forth as an actual or hypothetical datum give the dimensions of the roomd : to attribute in thought or utterance : ascribe gave the credit to you
9a : to yield as a product, consequence, or effect : produce cows give milk 84 divided by 12 gives 7b : to bring forth : bear
10a : to yield possession of by way of exchange : payb : to dispose of for a price : sell
11a : to deliver by some bodily action gave him a pushb : to carry out (a movement, facial expression, etc.) gave a cynical smilec : to inflict as punishmentd : to award by formal verdict judgment was given against the plaintiff
12 : to offer for consideration, acceptance, or use gives no reason for his absence
13a : to suffer the loss of : sacrifice gallantly gave his life for his countryb : to offer as appropriate or due especially to something higher or more worthy gave his spirit to Godc : to apply freely or fully : devote gave themselves to their workd : to offer as a pledge I give you my word
14a : to cause one to have or receive mountains always gave him pleasureb : to cause a person to catch by contagion, infection, or exposure
15a : to allow one to have or take give me timeb : to lead or attempt to lead —used with an infinitive you gave me to understand you'd be late
16 : to care to the extent of didn't give a hoot
intransitive verb
1 : to make gifts or presents gave generously to charities
2a : to yield to physical force or strainb : to collapse from the application of force or pressure The canvas chair gave under her weight.c : to undergo or submit to change for the strike to be settled, something has to give
3 : to afford a view or passage : open the window gives onto the terrace
4 : to enter wholeheartedly into an activity
5 slang : to be happening wants to know what gives

give birth

: to have a baby gave birth last Thursday

give birth to

1 : to produce as offspring gave birth to a son
2 : to be the source of

give chase

: to set off in pursuit

give ground

: to withdraw before superior force : retreat

give of

: to make available : provide generously freely gave of their time

give or take

: as an estimate accurate within (an amount to be added or subtracted) weighs 150 pounds, give or take a few pounds

give place to

: to be replaced or succeeded by optimism gave place to worry

give rise to

: to be the cause or source of : produce

give the gun

: to open the throttle of : speed up

give the lie to

1 : to accuse of falsehood
2 : to show to be false, inaccurate, or invalid

give tongue

of hounds : to begin barking on the scent

give way

1a : retreatb : to yield the right of way
2 : to yield oneself without restraint or control
3a : to yield to or as if to physical stress The roof gave way under heavy snow.b : to yield to entreaty or insistence After several hours of debate, the opposition finally gave way.
4 : to yield place Farmland has given way to shopping malls.
5 : to begin to row

See give defined for English-language learners

See give defined for kids

Examples of give in a Sentence

She gave him a camera for Christmas.
Are you giving this to me or only lending it?
She has given money to many worthy causes.
They're asking people to give money for a new hospital.
Please give to our charity.
We already gave at the office.
It is better to give than to receive.
He gave me the letter.
He gave her his coat to hold.
He gave me a head start.

Origin and Etymology of give

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish giva to give; akin to Old English giefan, gifan to give, and perhaps to Latin habēre to have, hold

First Known Use: 13th century

Synonym Discussion of give

give, present, donate, bestow, confer, afford mean to convey to another as a possession. give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means. give alms gave her a ride on a pony give my love to your mother present carries a note of formality and ceremony. present an award donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity). donate a piano to the orphanage bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver. bestow unwanted advice confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor). confer an honorary degree afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver. the trees afford shade a development that affords us some hope

give

noun

Definition of give

1 : capacity or tendency to yield to force or strain : flexibility
2 : the ability of a material to bend or stretch The knitted fabric has a lot of give to it.

See give defined for English-language learners

Origin and Etymology of give

see ¹give

First Known Use: 1868

GIVE Defined for Kids

give

play

verb \ˈgiv\

Definition of give for Students

gave

\ˈgāv\;

given

\ˈgiv-ən\;

giving

1 : to hand over to be kept : present He gave her a present.
2 : to cause to have Don't give me trouble.
3 : to let someone or something have give permission
4 : to offer for consideration or acceptance Can you give an example?
5 : ²utter give a yell give a speech
6 : furnish 2, provide give support The candle gives light. I'm giving a party.
7 : ¹pay 1 She gave me 20 dollars for my old skates.
8 : to deliver by some bodily action I gave her a hug.
9 : to yield as a product : produce Two plus two gives four.
10 : to yield slightly The mattress gave under our weight.

give in

: to stop trying to fight I begged Mom for permission till she gave in.

give out

1 : tell 6 Don't give out your phone number.
2 : to stop working The car finally gave out.

give up

1 : to let go of He gave up his seat to an elderly woman.
2 : quit Oh, I give up trying to reason with you.

give way

1 : to break down : collapse The bridge gave way.
2 : to be unable to resist No one gave way to fear.

give

play

noun

Definition of give for Students

: the ability to be bent or stretched The rope was tight, but still had some give.

Medical Dictionary

give

play

transitive verb \ˈgiv\

Medical Definition of give

gave

\ˈgāv\play ;

given

\ˈgiv-ən\play ;

giving

1: to administer as a medicine
2: to cause a person to catch by contagion, infection, or exposure

give birth

give birth to

Law Dictionary

give

transitive verb

Legal Definition of give

gave

given

giving

1a : to make a gift of I give the remainder of my estate to my wife — compare convey, sell b : to grant or bestow by formal action the law gives citizens the right to vote
2a : to transfer from one's authority or custody the sheriff gave the prisoner to the warden b : to execute and deliver all officers must give bond c : to communicate or impart to another failed to give adequate notice d : to offer or submit for the consideration of another give testimony in court
3 : to yield possession of by way of exchange
4a : to impose as punishment b : to award by formal verdict judgment was given against the plaintiff

giver

noun

Learn More about give

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for give Spanish Central: Translation of give Nglish: Translation of give for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of give for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up give? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

give

Definition of give

gave

given

giving

transitive verb

intransitive verb

give birth

give birth to

give chase

give ground

give of

give or take

give place to

give rise to

give the gun

give the lie to

give tongue

give way

Explore Merriam-Webster

Examples of give in a Sentence

Origin and Etymology of give

give Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of give

give

Definition of give

Origin and Etymology of give

GIVE Defined for Kids

give

Definition of give for Students

gave

given

giving

give in

give out

give up

give way

give

Definition of give for Students

Medical Dictionary

give

Medical Definition of give

gave

given

giving

give birth

give birth to

Law Dictionary

give

Legal Definition of give

gave

given

giving

giver

Learn More about give

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games