What does "gift" mean?

1. (a present) something that you give to someone, usually for a special occasion like a birthday. 2. (a talent) a natural ability to do something very well. 3. (to give as a present) to give something to someone as a present. 4. (to concede easily) to give something away too easily, like a goal in a game.

How do you use "gift"?

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

gift

n. · v.

US //ˈɡɪft// UK //ɡˈɪft// gift

1 a present (n.)
A2 Elementary

something that you give to someone, usually for a special occasion like a birthday.

something given voluntarily to another person without payment or expectation of return.

Example

She bought a beautiful gift for her sister's graduation party.

Example

The university received a generous gift from an anonymous donor, which will be used to fund several new research scholarships.
2 a talent (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a natural ability to do something very well.

an innate talent or natural aptitude for a specific activity or field.

Example

He has a real gift for languages and speaks four fluently.

Example

Her natural gift for mathematics was evident from a young age, long before she began formal training in advanced calculus.
- inability

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3 to give as a present (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

to give something to someone as a present.

to present something as a gift to a person or institution. Often used in formal or journalistic contexts.

Example

The company gifted a new laptop to every employee this year.

Example

The estate was gifted to the National Trust upon the owner's death, ensuring the historic gardens would be preserved for the public.

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
- withdraw
- keep
4 to concede easily (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Sport

to give something away too easily, like a goal in a game.

to allow an opponent to gain an advantage or score through a mistake.

Example

The goalkeeper gifted the other team a goal by dropping the ball.

Example

The defender gifted the striker an opening with a poorly timed pass, leading to a decisive goal in the final minutes.
- concede
- hand over
- defend
- earn

Origin

From Middle English gift (also yift, yifte, ȝift, ȝeft), partly from Old English ġift (“giving, consideration, dowry, wedding”) and Old Norse gipt (“gift, present, wedding”); both from Proto-Germanic *giftiz (“gift”). Equivalent to give + -t (etymologically yive + -t). Cognate with West Frisian jefte (“gift”), Saterland Frisian Gift (“gift”), German Low German Gift (“poison”), Dutch gift (“gift”) and its doublet gif (“poison”), German Gift (“poison”), Danish gift (“gift (obsolete); poison, venom”), Swedish gift (“gift, poison, venom”), Icelandic gift (“gift”). Doublet of yift. Distantly related to English habit, from Latin habitus.

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