verb | noun
givegive1 /gɪv/ ●●● S1 W1 verb (past tense gave /geɪv/, past participle given /ˈgɪvən/) 1
PUT IN somebody'S HAND [transitive] to put something near someone or in his or her hand so that he or she can use it, hold it, etc.: give somebody something Here, give me your coat.give something to somebody Give the keys to Daddy, Amanda. I gave the money to her on Wednesday.THESAURUSpass – to take something and put it in someone’s hand: Could you pass me the salt?hand – to pass something to someone: Hand me those scissors, will you?present – to formally or officially give something to someone who is with you: The students presented her with a bouquet of flowers.hand/pass out – to give something to each of the people in a group: Mr. Goodmanson handed out the test.hand in – to give something such as a piece of work to a teacher or employer: Time’s up. Put down your pencils and hand in your tests.submit formal – to give an official document such as a plan or application to someone for approval: Applications for the job must be submitted in person.share – to divide something into equal parts and give a part to each person: She made a cake and shared it with the children.distribute – to give things to a large number of people, especially on the street: Anti-war protesters were distributing leaflets.dispense formal – to give something to someone, especially a particular amount of medicine or other substances necessary for health: The aid workers were dispensing water bottles and rice.2PRESENT [transitive] to provide someone with something as a present: What are you giving Mom for Christmas?give somebody something Aunt Jo gave Alex a telescope.give something to somebody He gave a dozen roses to his wife on their anniversary.3PROVIDE [transitive] to provide or supply someone with a thing, a service, etc.: give somebody something Dan gave me a ride to work. The doctor gave him something for the pain.give something to somebody They gave the job to some guy from Texas.4let somebody do something [transitive] to allow or make it possible for someone to do or have something: give somebody something They never gave me a chance to explain. The teacher finally gave us permission to leave. Women were given the right to vote in the early 1900s.give something to somebody The plan gives control of the firm to an Indonesian company.5TELL somebody something [transitive] to tell someone information or details about something, or tell someone to do something: The police asked him to give a description of the man. You may have to give evidence in court.give somebody something Would you give Kim a message for me? Let me give you some advice.give orders/instructions Who gave the order to shoot?6DO AN ACTION [transitive] to do something by making a movement with your hand, face, body, etc.: Come on, give Grandpa a hug.give a smile/laugh/frown/yawn etc. The boy gave Lynn a big smile.give a wave/signal/sign etc. As he left the building, he gave the crowd a thumbs-up sign.give something a shake/rattle/tug etc. She gave the package an experimental shake.7make somebody have problems [transitive] to do something that causes problems or makes a situation difficult for someone: give somebody problems/trouble/difficulties The machines in the lab are giving us trouble. Stop giving me a hard time (=stop criticizing me).8MAKE somebody HAVE A FEELING [transitive] to make someone have a particular physical or emotional feeling: The applause gave her the confidence to continue.give somebody something The noise is giving me a headache.give something to somebody Their music has given pleasure to a lot of people.9MAKE somebody ELSE SICK [transitive] to infect someone with the same illness you have: give somebody something The kids are always giving me colds.give something to somebody It is very unlikely that a doctor could give HIV to a patient.10speech/talk/performance [transitive] to talk, play an instrument, etc. in front of a group of people: give a talk/speech/lecture etc. Each student has to give a short talk.give a performance/display/concert Yo Yo Ma gave a wonderful performance last night.11MONEY/HELP [intransitive, transitive] to give money, food, etc. in order to help others: He gives generously to the church.give something to somebody/something They gave $25 to the memorial fund.12MAKE somebody/something HAVE A QUALITY [transitive not in progressive] to make someone have a particular quality, shape, look, etc.: give somebody/something something The color of the room gives it a warm cozy feeling.13make somebody think something [transitive] to make someone think about something in a particular way, or have a particular idea about something: give somebody the impression/feeling/sense etc. He gave me the impression that he wasn’t happy with work.give somebody an idea/a picture/a view etc. The report gives an accurate picture of life in the inner cities.14PAY [transitive] to pay a particular amount of money for something: give somebody something for something I’ll give you $75 for the oak desk.15BEND/STRETCH [intransitive] if a material gives, it bends or stretches when you put pressure on it: The leather will give slightly when you start wearing the boots.16party/dance/social event [transitive] to organize a social event such as a party, especially at your own home: Julie is giving a birthday party for Lori next Saturday.17give somebody loyalty/obedience/respect etc. to behave in a loyal, respectful, etc. way toward someone: If you give children respect, they will respect you.18give (somebody/something) credit/respect/priority etc. to treat something or someone in a way that shows you think he or she has done something well, are important, etc.: You have to give him credit for trying. Top priority should be given to finishing on schedule.19PRODUCE AN EFFECT [transitive] to produce a particular effect, solution, result, etc.: The field goal gave the team a two-point lead over Fullerton.20tell somebody to do something [transitive] to ask or tell someone to do a job or piece of work: give somebody work/homework/chores etc. Our English teacher always gives us a lot of homework. If you’re bored, I’ll give you something to do.21give or take a few minutes/a mile/a penny etc. used in order to show that a number or amount is not exact: The show lasts about an hour, give or take five minutes.22give somebody/something time to allow time for someone to do something or something to happen: Give her some time. She’ll make the right decision.give somebody/something time to do something Can you give me a few more days to finish my report?SPOKEN PHRASES23don’t give me that! informal said when you do not believe someone’s excuse or explanation: “I’m too tired.” “Oh, don’t give me that! You just don’t want to come.”24somebody would give anything/a lot/his right arm etc. said to emphasize that someone wants something very much: I’d give anything to get tickets.25give me something (any day/time) used to say that you like something much more than something else: I don’t like those fancy desserts. Give me a bowl of ice cream any day.26give something six weeks/a month etc. used to say that you think that something is not going to continue successfully for very long: They’re moving in together? I give it about two months.27give it to somebody to angrily criticize or punish someone: He’s going to give it to you when he finds out.28give it to somebody straight to tell someone something in a clear direct way29what gives? used to ask someone what is happening when there is a problem or when something is confusing: “Scott quit yesterday.” “What gives?”30give as good as you get to fight or argue with someone, using the same amount of skill or force that he or she is using: The youngest of three sons, Dave can give as good as he gets.31I’ll give you that used to say that you accept that something is true, even though you do not like it or disagree with other parts of it: It’s nice – I’ll give you that – but I still wouldn’t want to live there.32give somebody what for old-fashioned informal to tell someone angrily that you are annoyed with him or her33give (something) thought/attention/consideration etc. to spend some time thinking about something carefully: He is giving serious consideration to running again for president. Don’t give it a second thought – I’ll take care of everything.34give (somebody) a hand informal to help someone do something: Can you give me a hand, here?give with Do you want a hand with your luggage?35give somebody a call/buzz informal to call someone on the telephone: I’ll give you a call before I leave, okay?36punishment [transitive] to officially say that someone must have a particular punishment: give somebody 6 months/3 years etc. Jones was given 30 years for the murder.give somebody a fine/sentence You could be given a fine of up to $1,000.37grade/score [transitive] to decide that someone should have a particular grade or score for something he or she has done: give somebody something Mr. Morris gave me a B on my report. One judge gave her a 9.8 on her balance beam routine.38CHANGE [intransitive] to be willing to change what you think or do in a situation according to what else happens: Both sides need to give a little. I’m willing to compromise somewhat, but he won’t give an inch (=change what he thinks).39BE CARING [intransitive] to be caring and generous, especially in a relationship: She’s looking for a man who knows how to give.40give something a try/shot/whirl to try to do something, especially something you have not done before: I don’t know; it might work. I’ll give it a try.41give and take informal to help other people and do things for them as well as expecting them to do things for you: You have to learn to give and take in any relationship.42give way a) (also give) to break because of too much weight or pressure: More than 50 homes were flooded when the dam gave way. The branch suddenly gave beneath him. b)give way to something to change to something newer, better, or different: Many movie houses closed down, giving way to smaller theaters. October gave way to November. c)to agree to do what someone else wants to do, instead of what you wanted to do: It is unlikely that either side will give way in the dispute over the islands. d)to yield43something has to give used to say that a situation cannot remain as it is and that something must change: With 800 refugees arriving every day, something has to give.44give somebody a/the name to name someone: We gave him the nickname “Spanky.”45give somebody to understand/believe that formal to make someone believe that something will happen or is true: I was given to understand that I would be offered a permanent job.46TELEPHONE [transitive] to make a telephone connection for someone: Operator, could you give me extension 103, please?47HAVE A BABY [transitive] old-fashioned to have a baby for a man: She gave him three sons.[Origin: Old English giefan] → see also give up the ghost at ghost1 (5)give away phrasal verb1give something ↔ away to give something to someone because you do not want or need it for yourself: I’m going to give some of these old clothes away.2give something ↔ away to give something to someone without asking for any money, rather than selling it to him or her: give something away to somebody/something The store is giving away a toaster to the first 50 customers.3give somebody/something ↔ away to do or say something that shows thoughts, feelings, or actions that you want to keep secret SYN reveal: He said he hadn’t told her, but his face gave him away (=showed that he had told her). I was afraid the kids would give the surprise party away.4give something ↔ away to lose a game or competition by doing something badly or making mistakes: I swear the Democrats are just giving away this election.5give somebody ↔ away when a man, especially the bride's father, gives the bride away, he walks with her to the front of the church and formally gives permission for her to marrygive back phrasal verb1give something ↔ back to return something to the person who it belongs to or to the person who gave it to you: give something back to somebody I’ll give the keys back to you tomorrow morning.give somebody something ↔ back He gave me back my books. Give Jane her doll back, Katie.2to give something to someone or do something for someone because he or she has helped you in the past: Anytime you do volunteer work, you give back to the community.give something ↔ back I hope to give back to Scouting what it has given me.3give something ↔ back to make it possible for someone to have or do something again, after a time when he or she has not been able to SYN restore: give somebody something ↔ back The operation gave him back his sight. The company finally agreed to give the women their old jobs back.give in phrasal verb1to agree to something you were unwilling to agree to before, especially because someone has forced or persuaded you to: Randy asked her out for months before she finally gave in.give in to We will never give in to terrorist demands.2to accept that you are or will be defeated and stop playing, fighting, etc.: Despite a bad first half, Iowa didn’t give in and went on to win 85–65.► see thesaurus at surrender1give in to something phrasal verb to stop being able to control a strong need, emotion, or desire: They refuse to give in to despair. Don’t have cookies in the cupboard – you’re bound to give in to temptation.give of something phrasal verb if you give of yourself, your time, or your money, you do things for other people without expecting them to do anything for you: These professionals give of their free time to help poor children.give off something phrasal verb to produce a smell, light, heat, a sound, etc. SYN emit: The factory gives off a terrible smell.give on/onto something phrasal verb formal if a window, door, building, etc. gives on or onto a particular place, it leads to that place or you can see that place from it: The door gave on a cement stairway leading down.give out phrasal verb1give something ↔ out to give something to a number of different people SYN hand out: She gave out copies of the report before the meeting. You shouldn’t have given my phone number out.2 to stop working correctly: My voice gave out halfway through the song. The fuel pump gave out on the freeway.3 if a supply of something gives out, there is none left: After two hours, my patience gave out.give somebody/something over to something phrasal verb1be given over to something to be used for a particular purpose: The upstairs bedroom is given over to her collection of antique dolls.2give yourself over to something (also give your life over to something) to spend all your time doing something: You have to give yourself over to football if you want to be good at it.3to give the responsibility for something or someone to a particular person, organization, etc.: His mother gave him over to his uncle’s care when he was very small.give up phrasal verb1STOP TRYING to stop trying to do something, especially something difficult, without completing it: I looked everywhere for the keys – finally I just gave up.give up doing something Vladimir has given up trying to teach her Russian.give up ↔ something She refused to give up the search.2STOP DOING something to stop doing or having something, especially something that you do or have regularly SYN quit: give something ↔ up She gave up her job, and started writing full time. Ed has given up his dream of becoming a professional athlete.give up doing something I gave up smoking when I got pregnant.► see thesaurus at stop13TO POLICE give somebody up to allow yourself or someone else to be caught by the police or enemy soldiers: give yourself up One of the men gave himself up to police on Thursday.4LET somebody HAVE something give somebody/something ↔ up to let someone else have something that is yours: She gave up her first child for adoption.give something up to somebody Peggy gave up her seat to an old woman on the bus.5GIVE TIME give up something to agree to use your free time to do something else: Carol has generously given up two evenings a week to help us on this project.6I give up spoken used when you do not know the answer to a question or joke: “Why did the chicken cross the road?” “I give up. Why?”7give somebody up for dead/lost etc. to believe that someone is dead and stop looking for him or her: The ship sank and the crew was given up for dead.8give it up (for somebody) spoken informal to applaud (=hit your open hands together) for someone: Come on everybody, let’s give it up for Elton John!give up on somebody/something phrasal verb to stop hoping that someone or something will change or improve: I’d been in trouble so many times that my teachers had given up on me.give yourself up to something phrasal verb literary to allow yourself to feel an emotion completely without trying to control it: She gave herself up to passion. verb | noun
givegive2 noun [uncountable] the ability of a material to bend or stretch when it is under pressure: A climbing rope must have some give to it.