English Reference

Word

gift

US/ˈɡɪft/

UK/ɡˈɪft/

Definitions

01a present

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

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

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

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

“The university received a generous gift from an anonymous donor, which will be used to fund several new research scholarships.”

02a talent

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a natural ability to do something very well.

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

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

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

Antonyms

03to give as a present

B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal

v. to give something to someone as a present.

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

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

“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.

Antonyms

04to concede easily

B2 · Upper Intermediate Sports Informal

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

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

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

“The defender gifted the striker an opening with a poorly timed pass, leading to a decisive goal in the final minutes.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

Etymology

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.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Idioms

Domain

Medicine

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
Frequency
Common
Level
A2 · ElementaryOxford
Updated

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English Reference