\ ˈgiv
\
\
gave\
ˈgāv
\; given\
ˈgi-vən
\; giving
\; given\
ˈgi-vən
\; giving
Definition of give
(Entry 1 of 2)
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 vote
b
: 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 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
4a
: 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
5a
: 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
8a
: 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
9a
: to yield as a product, consequence, or effect : produce
cows give milk 84 divided by 12 gives 7
b
: to bring forth : bear
11a
: 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
13a
: 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
14a
: to cause one to have or receive
mountains always gave him pleasure
b
: to cause a person to catch by contagion, infection, or exposure
15a
: 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
1
: to make gifts or presents
gave generously to charities
2a
: 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
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
: to have a baby
gave birth last Thursday
1
: to produce as offspring
gave birth to a son
2
: to be the source of
: to set off in pursuit
: to withdraw before superior force : retreat
: to make available : provide generously
freely gave of their time
: as an estimate accurate within (an amount to be added or subtracted)
weighs 150 pounds, give or take a few pounds
: to be replaced or succeeded by
optimism gave place to worry
: to be the cause or source of : produce
: to open the throttle of : speed up
1
: to accuse of falsehood
2
: to show to be false, inaccurate, or invalid
of hounds
: to begin barking on the scent
1a
: retreat
b
: 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
give
nounDefinition of give (Entry 2 of 2)
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.
Learn More About give
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
How to Use 'Munificent' and 'Beneficent'
How to Use 'Munificent' and 'Beneficent'
While we're in the giving mood
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Last Updated
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Cite this Entry
“Give.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/give. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022.
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More Definitions for give
give
verb
\ ˈgiv
\
\
gave\
ˈgāv
\; given\
ˈgiv-ən
\; giving
Kids Definition of give
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
: utter entry 2
give a yell give a speech
6
: furnish sense 2, provide
give support The candle gives light. I'm giving a party.
7
: pay entry 1 sense 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
give out
give up
give way
: to stop trying to fight
I begged Mom for permission till she gave in.
1
: tell sense 6
Don't give out your phone number.
2
: to stop working
The car finally gave out.
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.
1
: to break down : collapse
The bridge gave way.
2
: to be unable to resist
No one gave way to fear.
give
nounKids Definition of give (Entry 2 of 2)
: the ability to be bent or stretched
The rope was tight, but still had some give.
give
transitive verb
\ ˈgiv
\
\
gave\
ˈgāv
\; given\
ˈgiv-ən
\; giving
\; given\
ˈgiv-ən
\; giving
Medical Definition of give
1
: to administer as a medicine
2
: to cause a person to catch by contagion, infection, or exposure
give birth
give birth to
: to have a baby
gave birth last Thursday
: to produce as offspring
gave birth to a daughter
give
transitive verb
gave; given; giving
Legal Definition of give
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
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Time Traveler for give
The first known use of give was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century