Word
give
US/ˈɡɪv/
UK/ɡˈɪv/
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
give
Past
gave
Past participle
given
Definitions
01to hand over
A1 · Beginner
v. to hand something to someone so they can keep it or use it.
v. to transfer possession of a physical or abstract entity to another person. Often ditransitive, taking both a direct and indirect object.
日本語:あげる※
“She gave her brother a beautiful watch for his graduation.”
“The foundation gave the university a substantial grant to fund the new research laboratory over the next five years.”
Pitfall
I gave to him the book.
I gave him the book.
When the recipient comes before the object, do not use 'to'. Use 'I gave him the book' or 'I gave the book to him'.
02to produce or provide
A2 · Elementary
v. to produce a result or provide information.
v. to yield a result, product, or piece of information as an output.
“Adding these two numbers together gives you the total cost.”
“The initial data analysis gives a clear indication that consumer spending habits are shifting toward digital services.”
03to break or bend
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to break, collapse, or bend because of too much weight or pressure.
v. to yield, collapse, or lose structural integrity under physical force or pressure. Intransitive in this sense.
“The old wooden bridge started to give under the weight of the heavy truck.”
“The structural beams finally began to give after hours of intense heat, forcing the firefighters to evacuate the building immediately.”
04to organize an event
B1 · Intermediate
v. to organize or host a party or a performance.
v. to host, organize, or present a social event or public performance.
“They are giving a small dinner party to celebrate their anniversary.”
“The local orchestra is giving a free concert in the park this Saturday to encourage community engagement with classical music.”
05to devote oneself
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to spend a lot of your time or energy on something.
v. to devote or apply oneself or one's resources to a particular cause or activity. Often reflexive.
“He gave his whole life to helping people in need.”
“She gave herself entirely to the project, working late every night to ensure the launch was a success.”
06to have a certain look
C1 · Advanced Slang · Informal
v. to have a specific style or feeling.
v. to project a specific aesthetic, mood, or vibe. Used in modern informal contexts.
“That outfit is giving 1990s fashion vibes.”
“The minimalist decor in the new office is giving a very futuristic, high-tech energy that matches the company's brand.”
Usage
Often used in the construction 'it's giving [noun]' to describe a mood or style.
07flexibility
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the ability of something to bend or stretch without breaking.
n. the quality of resilience or the capacity of a physical object to yield under pressure.
“There isn't much give in this rope, so be careful not to pull too hard.”
“The new mattress has just enough give to be comfortable while still providing the necessary support for your back.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “give” in context.
Etymology
Middle English given, from merger of Old English giefan (“to give”) and Old Norse gefa (“to give”), from Proto-Germanic *gebaną (“to give”). Displaced yive, from Middle English yiven, of the same origin, from influence of Old Norse gefa.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
PREPOSITION
Related words
Idioms
01. don't give up your day job
02. give a damn
03. give a fuck
04. give a good account of oneself
05. give a hang
06. give a hoot
07. give a light
08. give a monkey's
10. give a rip
Show all 90
12. give and take
16. give back
17. give birth
18. give chase
19. give curry
20. give dome
21. give ear
22. give face
23. give head
24. give heed
25. give in
28. give it the gun
29. give life to
30. give lip
31. give notice
32. give one's all
35. give out
36. give pause
37. give someone a bloody nose
41. give someone a piece of one's mind
44. give someone a speaking to
46. give someone an inch and someone will take a mile
51. give someone Hail Columbia
54. give someone something to think about
57. give someone the brush-off
60. give someone the cold shoulder
64. give someone the old heave-ho
65. give someone the runaround
68. give someone their flowers
71. give someone to understand
78. give the axe
81. give the lie
82. give the lie to
84. give the sack
87. give weight
88. give what for
89. give zero fucks
Domain
- 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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/give
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0