give

GIV/ɡɪv/

27 meanings of give

1
pass it oververb
To put something into someone's hands or let them have it.
Please give your ticket to the man at the door.
When they asked, I had to give them my coat.
UsageSay give me the book, or give the book to me.
Similarhand, pass, transfer, deliver
Oppositetake, receive
2
verb
To let someone have something they need, such as a chance, time, or a medicine.
The teacher gave us one more week to finish our science project.
Let's give her a chance to explain what happened.
UsageSay give me a hand: help me.
Similarprovide, grant, allow, offer, afford
Oppositedeny, withhold, refuse
3
verbtransitive
To make someone have or feel something, like a chance, a headache, or a fright.
That scary film gave me bad dreams for a week.
Good teachers give their students confidence.
Similarprovide, offer, bring
4
award (judge)verbtransitive
To say that something belongs to someone or is true of them.
Old stories give the bridge to the Romans, but it is much newer.
The critics give the painting to a pupil, not the master.
Similarattribute, ascribe, assign, award
5
verb
To hand something to someone as a present.
My parents want to give me a bike when I finish school.
She gave him a watch for their anniversary.
UsageSay give to charity.
Similarpresent, donate, gift, contribute
Oppositereceive
6
verbtransitive
To announce or say out loud a decision or opinion.
The umpire finally gave his decision: out.
The judge will give her verdict tomorrow.
Similarannounce, deliver, utter, pronounce
7
verb
To do a physical action to someone or something.
Before you buy that melon, give it a gentle squeeze.
When the old TV stopped working, my dad gave it a hard slap.
UsageSay give me a hug.
8
verbliterarytransitive
To allow someone the power or right to do something, or a certain fate.
once again 'Tis given me to behold my friend.
1700, Nicholas Rowe, The Ambitious StepmotherHere, given means allowed, having the chance or right to do something.
Then give thy friend to shed the sacred wine.
1725, Homer, The Odyssey of HomerHere, give means allow, letting your friend do something.
Similargrant, allow, permit, cede
Note
9
performverbtransitive
To put on a show or a service for people.
The orchestra is giving a free concert in the park tonight.
The theater will give another performance on Sunday.
UsageSay give a talk.
Similarshow, stage, broadcast, air
Note
10
verbtransitive
To produce something as a result.
If you mix blue and yellow paint, they give you green.
Two and two give four.
Similaryield, produce, return
11
verbreflexivetransitive
To put yourself fully into something, or to have a habit of doing it.
After she retired, she decided to give herself fully to her garden.
That boy is given to fits of temper.
UsageUsually be given to + noun or -ing: he is given to anger.
Similardevote, dedicate, apply, commit
Note
12
verbtransitive
To be the host of a party or other social event.
We give a big dinner for the whole family every New Year's Day.
My parents gave a party when my sister finished college.
Similarhost, throw, hold
Note

Less common meanings

13
bendverbintransitive
To bend or break under weight or pressure.
Old branches give under a little weight.
One pillar gave, then the whole floor went.
UsageSay the bridge gave way: it broke.
Similaryield, bend, flex
Oppositeresist
Note
14
springinessnoununcountable
How much something bends when you press it, or how willing someone is to give way.
This mattress has a lot of give, so it feels soft when you lie down.
There's a little give in the floorboards.
UsageSay the shoes have some give.
Similarflexibility, elasticity, spring, springiness, play
Oppositerigidity, stiffness
Note
15
concedeverbtransitive
To admit that a point is fair or true.
The movie was too long, but the music was great, I'll give it that.
He had a fair point, and she gave him that.
UsageSay I'll give you that to agree with one part.
Similarconcede, grant, allow
Note
16
estimateverb
To guess how long something will last or how likely it is.
That new restaurant is always empty, so I give it a year at most.
I'd give it a fifty-fifty chance.
UsageSay I give it a week: I think it will last a week.
17
pass on (illness)verb
To pass an illness to someone, or to cause a health problem.
Don't come too close, I don't want to give you my cold.
He believed drinking had given him the disease.
Similarpass, transmit, cause
18
come across asverbslangtransitive
To have a certain look or style that reminds people of something.
That dress is giving old Hollywood.
Does this coat give old money or new?
UsageSaid as it's giving villain: it looks like a villain.
Similarchannel, serve
Note
19
open ontoverbintransitive
To open onto a place or lead to it, used about a door, window or path.
The bedroom gives onto a wide balcony.
The stiles give onto a small wood.
UsageSay the door gives onto the street: it opens there.
Similaropen, lead
Note
20
verbdatedtransitive
To have a view of a place, used about a window or room.
Columbus dwellers of Woodland Meadow Apts may not find themselves in a perfectly bucolic setting, as the residential complex gives onto a military defense logistics ground.
2006, Pierre Lagayette, Nature et progrès: interactionsHere, gives onto means looks out over or faces a place.
His window gave the park.
Here, gave means looked out over, giving a view of the park.
Similaroverlook, command, afford, offer
Note
21
pledgeverb
To make a serious promise to someone.
She gave her mother her word that she would call every Sunday.
Give me your promise that you'll write.
UsageI give you my word means I promise.
Similarpledge
22
introduce (on stage)verb
Used in I give you... to introduce a person to a crowd, or to ask people to drink to them.
And now, folks, I give you the winner of this year's talent show!
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you our president.
Similarpresent, introduce
Note
23
verbtransitive
To make or cause someone to do something, followed by 'to' and a verb.
The duke was given to understand that they had left together.
We were given to understand that the store would open at nine.
UsageI was given to understand means I was told.
Similarlead
Note
24
verbobsolete
To turn soft or a little wet.
Some moyst weather hath‥caused the powder to give and danke.
1590, John Smyth, A Discourse concerning weaponsHere, give means turn soft and a little damp.
Note
25
verbobsolete
To cry, with tears running from the eyes.
Whose eyes do never give / But through lust and laughter.
c. 1605, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”Here, give means cry or shed tears.
Note
26
verbobsolete
To have a bad feeling that something is wrong.
My mind gives ye're reserv'd / To rob poor market women.
c. 1608, John Webster, Appius and VirginiaHere, gives means has a bad feeling that something is wrong.
Note
27
nounliterary
An old spelling of gyve: a metal ring or chain fixed to a prisoner's legs.

Practice

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Origin

It comes from related Old English and Old Norse words that both meant 'to give'.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Give derives from related Old English and Old Norse words. en.wiktionary.org
Both ancestral words meant 'to give'. en.wiktionary.org