# give of

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/give-of
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to share your time, money, or energy generously to help others.

For teachers: to contribute or devote a portion of one's resources, such as time, effort, or money, typically for the benefit of others or a cause.

## Examples

- She always gives of her time to help the local charity.
- The volunteers give of themselves every weekend to ensure the community garden thrives.
- In times of national crisis, citizens are often called upon to give of their personal wealth to support the collective recovery.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He gives of his money to the poor." but "He gives his money to the poor." — while 'give of' is grammatically correct for resources, it is a formal literary style; in most cases, the simple verb 'give' is more natural.

## Usage notes

- usually followed by a reflexive pronoun like 'oneself' or a possessive noun phrase like 'one's time'.
- Teaching tip: contrast with the simple verb 'give'; 'give of' emphasizes the selfless nature of the act and the internal resources being shared.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.