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give

verb \ ˈgiv \
|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018

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
2 a : to grant or bestow by formal action
  • the law gives citizens the right to vote
b : to accord or yield to another
  • gave him her confidence
3 a : to put into the possession of another for his or her use
  • gave me his phone number
b (1) : to administer as a sacrament
(2) : to administer as a medicine
c : to commit to another as a trust or responsibility and usually for an expressed reason
d : to transfer from one's authority or custody
  • the sheriff gave the prisoner to the warden
e : to execute and deliver
  • all employees must give bond
f : to convey to another
  • give them my regards
4 a : to offer to the action of another : proffer
  • gave her his hand
b dated, of a woman : to yield (oneself) to a man in sexual intercourse
5 a : to present in public performance
  • give a concert
b : 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
8 a : to designate as a share or portion : allot
  • all the earth to thee and to thy race I give
  • —John Milton
b : to make assignment of (a name)
c : to set forth as an actual or hypothetical datum
  • give the dimensions of the room
d : to attribute in thought or utterance : ascribe
  • gave the credit to you
9 a : to yield as a product, consequence, or effect : produce
  • cows give milk
  • 84 divided by 12 gives 7
b : to bring forth : bear
10 a : to yield possession of by way of exchange : pay
b : to dispose of for a price : sell
11 a : to deliver by some bodily action
  • gave him a push
b : to carry out (a movement, facial expression, etc.)
  • gave a cynical smile
c : to inflict as punishment
d : 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
13 a : to suffer the loss of : sacrifice
  • gallantly gave his life for his country
b : to offer as appropriate or due especially to something higher or more worthy
  • gave his spirit to God
c : to apply freely or fully : devote
  • gave themselves to their work
d : to offer as a pledge
  • I give you my word
14 a : to cause one to have or receive
  • mountains always gave him pleasure
b : to cause a person to catch by contagion, infection, or exposure
15 a : to allow one to have or take
  • give me time
b : 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
2 a : to yield to physical force or strain
b : 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
1 a : retreat
b : to yield the right of way
2 : to yield oneself without restraint or control
3 a : 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

  1. She gave him a camera for Christmas.

  2. Are you giving this to me or only lending it?

  3. She has given money to many worthy causes.

  4. They're asking people to give money for a new hospital.

  5. Please give to our charity.

  6. We already gave at the office.

  7. It is better to give than to receive.

  8. He gave me the letter.

  9. He gave her his coat to hold.

  10. He gave me a head start.

Recent Examples of give from the Web

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

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

give Synonyms

Synonyms

commend, commit, confide, consign, delegate, deliver, entrust (also intrust), give over, hand, hand over, leave, pass, recommend, repose, transfer, transmit, trust, turn over, vest;

Antonyms

hold, keep, retain;

Near Antonyms

detain, hold back, reserve, withhold;

own, possess;

accept, receive, take in;

occupy, take, take over;

Related Words

confer, grant;

assign, deal (out), dispense, disperse, distribute, divide;

hand in, release, relinquish, submit, surrender, turn in, yield;

bequeath, hand down, hand on, will;

advance, lend, loan;

furnish, supply;

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
2

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

Recent Examples of give from the Web

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

Origin and Etymology of give

see 1give

GIVE Defined for Kids

1

give

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.

Synonym Discussion of give

give, present, and donate mean to hand over to someone without looking for a return. give can be used of anything that is delivered in any way.
    • Please give me your coat.
    • I gave a friend a gift.
present is used when something is given with some ceremony.
    • They presented a trophy to the winner.
donate is used for giving to a charity.
    • Some kind person donated the toys.
2

give

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

transitive verb \ ˈgiv \

medical Definition of give

gave play \ˈgāv\; given play \ˈgiv-ən\; giving
1 : to administer as a medicine
2 : to cause a person to catch by contagion, infection, or exposure
— give birth
: to have a baby
  • gave birth last Thursday
— give birth to
: to produce as offspring
  • gave birth to a daughter

Law Dictionary

give

transitive verb

legal Definition of give

gave; given; giving
1 a : 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
2 a : 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
4 a : to impose as punishment
b : to award by formal verdict
  • judgment was given against the plaintiff
—

giver

noun

Learn More about give

  1. 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

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