ENGLISH
REFERENCE

giving

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɡɪvɪŋ// UK //ɡˈɪvɪŋ// giv·ing Slang

adj. having a specific mood or look that reminds you of something else. You use this to say that someone or something is successfully showing a certain style.

adj. describing a person, object, or situation that strongly evokes a particular aesthetic, mood, or persona. Typically used in a predicative position following a linking verb.


SIMPLE

Her outfit is giving 90s supermodel.

CONTEXTUAL

The new restaurant's decor is giving haunted mansion, but in a very stylish and intentional way.

COMPLEX

While some critics found the performance derivative, the younger audience praised it for giving main character energy through its bold lighting and dramatic pacing.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

By surface analysis, give + -ing.

Usage

Often used with a following noun phrase to specify the vibe being evoked; can also stand alone to mean 'impressive' or 'stylish'.

Pitfall

It is giving of 1920s.It is giving 1920s.In this slang sense, the word is used as a direct descriptor and does not take the preposition 'of'.

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference