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give v., gave/geɪv/USA pronunciation giv•en, giv•ing, n.
v.

to present freely and without expecting something in return;
make a gift of: [~ + object + to + object]to give a birthday present to my wife.[~ + object + object]to give my wife a birthday present.[no object]The charity asked us to give generously.
to hand to someone: [~ + object + object]Give me that plate, please.[~ + object + to + object]Give the book to your sister.
to place in someone's care: [~ + object + to + object]I gave the folders to your assistant.[~ + object + object]Give the butler your coat.
to grant (permission, opportunity, etc.) to someone or something: [~ + object + object]Give me a chance.[~ + (to +) object + object]Let's give (to) each candidate the same chance to speak.[~ + object + to + object]You should give an opportunity to each candidate.
to convey by words: [~ + object]to give advice.[~ + object + object]I gave her my phone number.
to communicate (a disease);
transmit: [~ + object + to + object]She gave her cold to her sister.[~ + object + object]She gave her sister her cold.
to set forth or show;
present;
offer: [~ + object]He wouldn't give a reason for his actions.[~ + object + to + object]He wouldn't give any reason to his parents for his actions.[~ + object + object]He wouldn't give his parents any reason for his actions.
to pay or transfer possession to another in exchange for something: [~ + object]They gave five dollars for the picture.[~ + object + object]They gave me five dollars for the picture.
to furnish, provide, or offer: [~ + object]to give evidence in a court of law.[~ + object + to + object]He gave testimony to the court.[~ + (to +) object + object]He gave (to) the police the evidence they needed.
to provide as an entertainment or social function: [~ + object]to give a Halloween party.[~ + object + object]We gave them an anniversary party.
to deal or administer: [~ + object + to + object]to give medicine to a sick patient.[~ + object + object]to give a sick patient medicine.
to assign, accept, or figure as a basis of calculation or reasoning: [~ + object]Given these facts, the theory makes sense. [ [~] + [object] + [object] ]: I give him two days before he quits.
to produce, yield, or cause: [~ + object]This recipe gives good results.[~ + object + object]The beer gave me a headache.
to make, do, or perform;
put forth: [~ + object]The car gave a lurch, then stalled.[~ + object + object]Give me a little kiss.
to cause;
be responsible for:[~ + object + to + verb]They gave me to understand that you would be there.
to care about something to the value or extent of: [~ + object]I don't give a hoot about their opinion.[~ + object + to + verb]I'd give anything to be in bed asleep.
to sacrifice:[~ + object]He gave his life for his country.
to assign;
allot:[~ + object + object]They gave him the nickname "Scooter.''
to acknowlege as deserving;
attribute or ascribe: [~ + object + object]You've got to give him credit, he did a good job.[~ + object + to + object]I have to give most of the credit to my teammates.
to connect with, as through a switchboard:[~ + object + object]The operator gave me your office assistant's phone.
to present to an audience: [~ + (to +) object + object][present tense only]Ladies and gentlemen, I give (to) you the governor.
to apply fully or freely;
devote: [~ + object + to + object]I'll give my full attention to your problem.[~ + object + object]I'll give it my full attention.
to inflict as a punishment on another;
impose a sentence of: [~ + object + object]The judge gave him a sentence of ten years.[~ + (to +) object + object]The judge gave (to) each defendant a sentence of ten years.[~ + object + to + object]The judge gave the maximum sentence to each defendant.
to pledge, offer as a pledge, or deliver: [~ + object + object]She gave him her word.[~ + object]She gave her word.
to bear (a baby, children, etc.) to a man:[~ + object + object]She gave him a beautiful baby boy.
to cause a woman to have (a baby or children);
to father:[~ + object + object]He gave her two children in four years.
to admit that (something) is true:[~ + object + object]He's not handsome, I'll give you that.
The expression Give me when followed by something as an object is used to mean "I would like to have (the object mentioned)'':[~ + me + object]Give me a house in the suburbs. (= I would like to have a house in the suburbs).
to compromise or yield a little, as to influence or persuasion:[no object]Each side in the dispute must give on some points.
to sink in, bend, stretch, or yield a little under weight, force, pressure, etc.:[no object]A horsehair mattress doesn't give much.
to collapse;
break down;
fall apart:[no object]The old chair gave when I sat on it.
to be warm and open in relationships with others:[no object]a withdrawn person who doesn't know how to give.
Informal Termsto let out information:[no object]Okay now, give! What happened?
to provide a view or passage;
face, open, or lead:[~ + on/onto]This door gives onto the hallway.
give away:
- to offer or donate as a present;
  bestow: [~ + away + object]He gave away all his money to charity.[~ + object + away]He gave all his money away.
- to present (the bride) to the bridegroom in a marriage ceremony: [~ + away + object]The father gave away the bride.[~ + object + away]She asked him to give her away at the wedding.
- to let out, disclose, betray, or expose: [~ + away + object]giving away secrets.[~ + object + away]Would we be giving any secrets away?
give back, to return (something), as to the owner;
restore: [~ + back + object]I gave back the book.[~ + object + back]I gave the book back.[~ + back + object + to + object]Give back the book to the owner.[~ + object + back + to + object]Let's give the book back to the owner.[~ + object + back + object]Give me back my money.[~ + object + object + back]Give me my money back.
give in:
- to acknowledge defeat;
  admit a loss;
  surrender;
  yield: [no object]was too tired to fight and gave in.[~ + in + to + object]She gave in to despair.
- to hand in;
  deliver: [~ + in + object]She gave in her timecard.[~ + object + in]She gave her timecard in.
give of, to devote or contribute generously of: [~ + of + oneself]She gives of herself at all times in her teaching.[~ + of + one's + object]She gave of her time freely.
give off, [~ + object] to put forth;
emit:The gardenia gives off a strong fragrance.
give out:
- [~ + object] to send out;
  emit:gave out a loud cry.
- [~ + object] to make public or make known;
  announce:gave out the news.
- to distribute;
  hand out;
  issue: [~ + out + object]I gave out the test booklets.[~ + object + out]I gave the test booklets out.
- [no object] to become exhausted or used up:The battery gave out.
give over:
- to put into the care or custody of;
  transfer: [~ + over + object]She gave over all her property to her daughter.[~ + object + over]She gave it over to her daughter.
- [~ + oneself + over] to submit fully;
  yield to:She gave herself over to tears.
- [~ + object + over] to devote to a specified activity:The day was given over to relaxing.
give up:
- [no object] to abandon hope;
  despair:After a while I just gave up; I thought I'd never see her again.
- to stop;
  desist from;
  renounce: [no object]After searching ten hours straight, we gave up.[~ + object]refused to give up politics.[~ + verb-ing]to give up smoking.
- to surrender;
  relinquish: [~ (+ oneself) + up]told the escaped convict to give (himself) up.[~ + up + object]Give up your hostages.[~ + object + up]Give the hostages up.
- [~ + oneself + up + to + object] to devote (oneself ) entirely to:She gave herself up to this project.

n. [uncountable]

the quality or state of yielding or sinking under force or pressure;
springiness:There's not much give to this couch.

Idioms

Idioms give it to, [~ + object][Informal.]to reprimand or punish:His mom is really going to give it to him for breaking the window.

Idioms give or take, [~ + object] plus or minus a specified amount:in about an hour, give or take five minutes.

giv•er, n. [countable]

give v., gave, giv•en, giv•ing, n.
v.t.

to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation;
bestow:to give a birthday present to someone.
to hand to someone:Give me that plate, please.
to place in someone's care:If you give me your coat, I'll put it in the closet.
to grant (permission, opportunity, etc.) to someone:Give me a chance.
to impart or communicate:to give advice; to give a cold to someone.
to set forth or show;
present;
offer:He gave no reason for his lateness.
to pay or transfer possession to another in exchange for something:They gave five dollars for the picture. He gave me the car for $800.
to furnish, provide, or proffer:to give evidence; Let me give you my umbrella before you go out in this rain.
to provide as an entertainment or social function:to give a New Year's Eve party.
to deal or administer:to give a blow to someone; to give medicine to a patient.
to put forth, emit, or utter;
issue:to give a cry; to give a command.
to assign or admit as a basis of calculation or reasoning (usually used passively):These facts being given, the argument makes sense.
to produce, yield, or afford:to give good results;9 × 8 gives 72;The hen gave six eggs a week.
to make, do, or perform:to give a start; to give a lurch.
to perform or present publicly:to give a play; to give a concert.
to cause;
be responsible for (usually fol. by an infinitive):They gave me to understand that you would be there.
to care about something to the value or extent of (something fanciful):I don't give a hoot about his opinion.
to relinquish or sacrifice:to give one's life for a cause.
to convey or transmit:Give Aunt Betty my love.
to assign or allot:Give every man a full ration of biscuits. They gave him the name of "Joseph.''
to bestow (the object of one's choice) upon, as if by providence:Give me the wide open spaces anytime.
to be connected with, as by a telephone operator:Give me 235-7522.
to present to an audience, as an entertainer, speaker, or act:Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the governor of Texas.
to attribute or ascribe:to give the devil his due; After long study the critic gave the unsigned work to a minor impressionist.
to cause or occasion:She gives me a pain in the neck.
to apply fully or freely:He gives his free time to golf.
to award by verdict or after consideration:A decision was given for the defendant.
to inflict as a punishment on another;
punish by;
impose a sentence of:The judge gave him five years.
to pledge, offer as a pledge, or execute and deliver:He gave her his promise. Can you give bond?
to propose as the subject of a toast (fol. by an indirect object):Ladies and gentlemen, I give you our country.
to bear to a man;
deliver (fol. by an indirect object):She gave him a beautiful baby boy.
to sire upon a woman;
father (fol. by an indirect object):He gave her two children in the first five years of marriage.
to concede or grant, as a point in an argument.

v.i.

to make a gift or gifts;
contribute:to give to the United Way.
to yield somewhat, as to influence or force;
compromise:We can't negotiate until each side is willing to give on some points.
to yield somewhat when subjected to weight, force, pressure, etc.:A horsehair mattress doesn't give much.
to collapse;
break down;
fall apart;
fail:The antique chair gave when I sat on it.
to be warm and open in relationships with other persons:a withdrawn person who doesn't know how to give.
Informal Termsto divulge information:Okay now, give! What happened?
to afford a view or passage;
face, open, or lead (usually fol. by on, onto, etc.):The window gives on the sea. This door gives onto the hallway.
Idioms give and take:
- to compromise in order to cooperate:A willingness to give and take is important for success in marriage.
- to exchange ideas:an informal meeting in which there would be opportunities to give and take.
give away:
- to give as a present;
  bestow.
- to present (the bride) to the bridegroom in a marriage ceremony.
- to expose or betray (a person).
- to reveal (a confidence or secret, hidden motives, true feelings, etc.):That remark gave away his real feelings.
give back, to return (something), as to its owner;
restore:You haven't given back the books you borrowed from me.
Idioms give battle. See battle ¹ (def. 6).
give birth to. See birth (def. 8).
Idioms give ground, to yield before superior force, as of arms or of reasoning.
give in:
- to acknowledge defeat;
  yield.
- to hand in;
  deliver:Please give in your timecards.
Idioms, Informal Terms give it to, [Informal.]to reprimand or punish:His father really gave it to him for coming home so late.
give of, to devote or contribute generously of:to give of oneself; to give of one's abundance.
give off, to put forth;
emit:The gardenia gives off a very strong fragrance.
Idioms give or take, plus or minus a specified amount;
more or less:It will cost $20, give or take a dollar or two.
give out:
- to send out;
  emit.
- to make public;
  announce.
- to distribute;
  issue.
- to become exhausted.
- to become used up;
  fail:The fuel gave out.
- to do or express something, esp. unrestrainedly or easily:to give out with a song.
give over:
- to put into the care of;
  transfer:She gave over all her property to her daughter.
- to put an end to;
  stop:They will never give over their impossible dreams.
- to indulge in without restraint:She gave herself over to tears.
- to devote to a specified activity:The day was given over to relaxing in the sun.
Idioms give rise to. See rise (def. 55).
give up:
- to abandon hope;
  despair.
- to desist from;
  renounce:to give up smoking.
- to surrender;
  relinquish.
- to devote (oneself ) entirely to:She gave herself up to her job and seldom saw her old friends.
- [South Midland U.S.]to consider;
  deem:She's given up to be the kindest woman around here.
Idioms give way. See way (def. 26).

the quality or state of being resilient;
springiness.

Old Norse gefa (compare Danish give); replacing Middle English yeven, yiven, Old English gefan, giefan; cognate with Dutch geven, German geben, Gothic giban
Middle English bef. 900