# given

/ˈɡɪvən/ (US) · /ɡˈɪvən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/given
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. considering

preposition · CEFR B2

you use this to mean 'considering' or 'taking into account' a specific fact.

For teachers: used to introduce a factor that must be considered when making a judgment or calculation.

- Given the bad weather, it is surprising that so many people came to the party.
- Given the volatility of the current market, the board decided to postpone the merger until the next fiscal quarter.

### 2. specific or particular

adjective · CEFR B2

a particular or specific thing that has been mentioned or chosen.

For teachers: referring to a specific or particular instance previously mentioned or under consideration.

- At any given time, there are thousands of planes in the sky.
- The software allows users to track the location of the fleet at any given moment with high precision.

### 3. prone to something

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

having a tendency to do something or behave in a certain way.

For teachers: having a tendency or inclination toward a specific behavior or condition; usually followed by 'to'.

- He is given to long silences when he is thinking about a problem.
- The professor was given to occasional outbursts of temper when students arrived late to his lectures.

Usage: Usually follows the pattern 'be given to' followed by a noun or gerund.

### 4. an assumed fact

noun · CEFR B2

something that is certain to happen or is accepted as true without proof.

For teachers: a basic condition or fact that is assumed to be true and does not require further evaluation.

- In this company, hard work is a given if you want a promotion.
- It is a given that the project will require additional funding before the final phase can begin.

## Examples

- In this company, hard work is a given.
- When planning the outdoor wedding, the couple treated the possibility of rain as a given and rented a large tent.
- The philosopher argued that while sensory experience is a given, the interpretation of that data is subject to the cultural biases of the observer.

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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.