| Learning / English Dictionary |
GIVE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
Irregular inflected forms: gave , given
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("give" is a kind of...):
elasticity; snap (the tendency of a body to return to its original shape after it has been stretched or compressed)
Derivation:
give (be flexible under stress of physical force)
II. (verb)
Verb forms
Present simple: I / you / we / they give ... he / she / it gives
Past simple: gave
Past participle: given
-ing form: giving
Sense 1
Meaning:
Proffer (a body part)
Example:
She gave her hand to her little sister
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
offer; proffer (present for acceptance or rejection)
Verb group:
give (consent to engage in sexual intercourse with a man)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 2
Meaning:
Consent to engage in sexual intercourse with a man
Example:
She gave herself to many men
Classified under:
Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
accept; consent; go for (give an affirmative reply to; respond favorably to)
Verb group:
give (proffer (a body part))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 3
Meaning:
Occur
Example:
what gives?
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
come about; fall out; go on; hap; happen; occur; pass; pass off; take place (come to pass)
Domain usage:
argot; cant; jargon; lingo; patois; slang; vernacular (a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves))
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Sense 4
Meaning:
Estimate the duration or outcome of something
Example:
I gave him a very good chance at success
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
approximate; estimate; gauge; guess; judge (judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Sense 5
Meaning:
Dedicate
Example:
pay attention to
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
cerebrate; cogitate; think (use or exercise the mind or one's power of reason in order to make inferences, decisions, or arrive at a solution or judgments)
Verb group:
give; sacrifice (endure the loss of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s something PP
Sense 6
Meaning:
Inflict as a punishment
Example:
The judge gave me 10 years
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
bring down; impose; inflict; visit (impose something unpleasant)
Verb group:
give (accord by verdict)
give (give (as medicine))
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 7
Meaning:
Allow to have or take
Example:
I give you two minutes to respond
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
allow; countenance; let; permit (consent to, give permission)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 8
Meaning:
Guide or direct, as by behavior of persuasion
Example:
You gave me to think that you agreed with me
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
lead (cause to undertake a certain action)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Sense 9
Meaning:
Submit for consideration, judgment, or use
Example:
give an excuse
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
submit (refer for judgment or consideration)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 10
Meaning:
Give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
Example:
consecrate your life to the church
Synonyms:
commit; consecrate; dedicate; devote; give
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
apply; employ; use; utilise; utilize (put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose)
Verb group:
give (offer in good faith)
give; sacrifice (endure the loss of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
consecrate; vow (dedicate to a deity by a vow)
rededicate (dedicate anew)
apply (apply oneself to)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Sense 11
Meaning:
Offer in good faith
Example:
He gave her his word
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
pledge (give as a guarantee)
Verb group:
commit; consecrate; dedicate; devote; give (give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
giving (the imparting of news or promises etc.)
Sense 12
Meaning:
Manifest or show
Example:
The office gave evidence of tampering
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
evince; express; show (give expression to)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 13
Meaning:
Convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture
Example:
She gave me a dirty look
Synonyms:
give; throw
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Sense 14
Meaning:
Convey, as of a compliment, regards, attention, etc.; bestow
Example:
pay attention
Synonyms:
give; pay
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
extend; offer (offer verbally)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 15
Meaning:
Bestow
Example:
render thanks
Synonyms:
give; render
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
communicate; intercommunicate (transmit thoughts or feelings)
Verb group:
give (accord by verdict)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
dedicate (inscribe or address by way of compliment)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 16
Meaning:
Accord by verdict
Example:
give a decision for the plaintiff
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
accord; allot; grant (allow to have)
Verb group:
give (inflict as a punishment)
give; render (bestow)
Domain category:
jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 17
Meaning:
Propose
Example:
He gave the first of many toasts at the birthday party
Classified under:
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
drink; pledge; salute; toast; wassail (propose a toast to)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 18
Meaning:
Give food to
Example:
don't give the child this tough meat
Synonyms:
feed; give
Classified under:
Verbs of eating and drinking
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
cater; ply; provide; supply (give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance)
Cause:
eat (take in solid food)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
crop; graze; pasture (let feed in a field or pasture or meadow)
range (let eat)
aliment; nourish; nutrify (give nourishment to)
inject (feed intravenously)
bottlefeed (feed (infants) with a bottle)
breastfeed; give suck; lactate; nurse; suck; suckle; wet-nurse (give suck to)
breakfast (provide breakfast for)
lunch (provide a midday meal for)
force-feed (feed someone who will not or cannot eat)
spoonfeed (feed with a spoon)
overfeed (feed excessively)
malnourish; undernourish (provide with insufficient quality or quantity of nourishment)
corn (feed (cattle) with corn)
regurgitate (feed through the beak by regurgitating previously swallowed food)
fodder (give fodder (to domesticated animals))
scavenge (feed on carrion or refuse)
dine (give dinner to; host for dinner)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Derivation:
giving (the act of giving)
Sense 19
Meaning:
Be flexible under stress of physical force
Example:
This material doesn't give
Synonyms:
give; yield
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
stretch (become longer by being stretched and pulled)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Also:
give in (consent reluctantly)
Derivation:
give (the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length)
Sense 20
Meaning:
Give or supply
Example:
The estate renders some revenue for the family
Synonyms:
generate; give; render; return; yield
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
create; make; produce (create or manufacture a man-made product)
Verb group:
give; yield (cause to happen or be responsible for)
establish; give (bring about)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 21
Meaning:
Cause to happen or be responsible for
Example:
His two singles gave the team the victory
Synonyms:
give; yield
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
create; make (make or cause to be or to become)
Verb group:
generate; give; render; return; yield (give or supply)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 22
Meaning:
Bring about
Example:
The trompe l'oeil-illusion establishes depth
Synonyms:
establish; give
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
create; make (make or cause to be or to become)
Verb group:
generate; give; render; return; yield (give or supply)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
introduce (bring in or establish in a new place or environment)
pacify (fight violence and try to establish peace in (a location))
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 23
Meaning:
Perform for an audience
Example:
Pollini is giving another concert in New York
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
perform (give a performance (of something))
Verb group:
give (present to view)
Domain category:
performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 24
Meaning:
Present to view
Example:
He gave the sign to start
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
show (make visible or noticeable)
Verb group:
give (perform for an audience)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 25
Meaning:
Organize or be responsible for
Example:
give a course
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
direct (be in charge of)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Sense 26
Meaning:
Move in order to make room for someone for something
Example:
'Move over,' he told the crowd
Synonyms:
ease up; give; give way; move over; yield
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
move (move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion)
Verb group:
abandon; give up (stop maintaining or insisting on; of ideas or claims)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Sense 27
Meaning:
Break down, literally or metaphorically
Example:
The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice
Synonyms:
break; cave in; collapse; fall in; founder; give; give way
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)
Verb group:
abandon; give up (stop maintaining or insisting on; of ideas or claims)
burst; collapse (cause to burst)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
sink; slide down; slump (fall or sink heavily)
break (curl over and fall apart in surf or foam, of waves)
flop (fall loosely)
buckle; crumple (fold or collapse)
go off; implode (burst inward)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Sense 28
Meaning:
Transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody
Example:
She gave the children lots of love and tender loving care
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
transfer (cause to change ownership)
Cause:
have; have got; hold (have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
enfeoff (put in possession of land in exchange for a pledge of service, in feudal society)
vest (place (authority, property, or rights) in the control of a person or group of persons)
dispense with; give up; part with; spare (give up what is not strictly needed)
repay; requite (make repayment for or return something)
furnish; provide; render; supply (give something useful or necessary to)
lend; loan (give temporarily; let have for a limited time)
cede; concede; grant; yield (give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another)
bank; deposit (put into a bank account)
render; return (give back)
chip in; contribute; give; kick in (contribute to some cause)
offer; proffer (present for acceptance or rejection)
cater; ply; provide; supply (give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance)
cough up; pony up; spit up (give reluctantly)
lease; let; rent (grant use or occupation of under a term of contract)
support (support materially or financially)
pay (give money, usually in exchange for goods or services)
accord; allot; grant (allow to have)
allow; grant (let have)
present; submit (hand over formally)
bestow (give as a gift)
heap (bestow in large quantities)
administer; allot; deal; deal out; dish out; dispense; distribute; dole out; lot; mete out; parcel out; shell out (administer or bestow, as in small portions)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Antonym:
take (take into one's possession)
Also:
give back (pay back)
Derivation:
giver (person who makes a gift of property)
giving (disposing of property by voluntary transfer without receiving value in return)
giving (the act of giving)
Sense 29
Meaning:
Leave with; give temporarily
Example:
Can I give you the children for the weekend?
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
give; hand; pass; pass on; reach; turn over (place into the hands or custody of)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Sense 30
Meaning:
Give as a present; make a gift of
Example:
What will you give her for her birthday?
Synonyms:
gift; give; present
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
render; submit (make over as a return)
tender (offer or present for acceptance)
donate (give to a charity or good cause)
treat (provide with a gift or entertainment)
deed over; grant (transfer by deed)
cede; deliver; give up; surrender (relinquish possession or control over)
bequeath; leave; will (leave or give by will after one's death)
bung; fee; tip (give a tip or gratuity to in return for a service, beyond the compensation agreed on)
raffle; raffle off (dispose of in a lottery)
give away (make a gift of)
distribute; give out; hand out; pass out (give to several people)
dower; endow (furnish with an endowment)
regift (give a present that one has received to someone else)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Derivation:
giver (person who makes a gift of property)
giving (disposing of property by voluntary transfer without receiving value in return)
Sense 31
Meaning:
Place into the hands or custody of
Example:
He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers
Synonyms:
give; hand; pass; pass on; reach; turn over
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
transfer (cause to change ownership)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
entrust; leave (put into the care or protection of someone)
commit; confide; entrust; intrust; trust (confer a trust upon)
free; give up; release; relinquish; resign (part with a possession or right)
deliver; fork out; fork over; fork up; hand over; render; turn in (to surrender someone or something to another)
deal (give (a specific card) to a player)
slip; sneak (pass on stealthily)
give (leave with; give temporarily)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sentence examples:
They give the parcel to their parents
They give them the parcel
Sense 32
Meaning:
Convey or reveal information
Example:
Give one's name
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
say; state; tell (express in words)
Verb group:
give; impart; leave; pass on (transmit (knowledge or skills))
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
quote (name the price of)
cast (deposit)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
giving (the imparting of news or promises etc.)
Sense 33
Meaning:
Transmit (knowledge or skills)
Example:
impart a new skill to the students
Synonyms:
give; impart; leave; pass on
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
tell (let something be known)
Verb group:
bequeath; leave; will (leave or give by will after one's death)
give (convey or reveal information)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
convey ((of information) make known; pass on)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Derivation:
giving (the imparting of news or promises etc.)
Sense 34
Meaning:
Contribute to some cause
Example:
I gave at the office
Synonyms:
chip in; contribute; give; kick in
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
give (transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
combine (add together from different sources)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Derivation:
giving (disposing of property by voluntary transfer without receiving value in return)
giving (the act of giving)
Sense 35
Meaning:
Give or convey physically
Example:
I gave him a punch in the nose
Synonyms:
apply; give
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
administer; allot; deal; deal out; dish out; dispense; distribute; dole out; lot; mete out; parcel out; shell out (administer or bestow, as in small portions)
Verb group:
give (give (as medicine))
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
tread (apply (the tread) to a tire)
administer (perform (a church sacrament) ritually)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 36
Meaning:
Give (as medicine)
Example:
I gave him the drug
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
administer; dispense (give or apply (medications))
Verb group:
give (inflict as a punishment)
apply; give (give or convey physically)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 37
Meaning:
Cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
Example:
The draft gave me a cold
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Verb group:
afford; give; yield (be the cause or source of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
infect (communicate a disease to)
award; grant (give as judged due or on the basis of merit)
deliver; drive home (carry out or perform)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Sentence examples:
They give the food to the people
They give the people the food
Sense 38
Meaning:
Bestow, especially officially
Example:
This bill grants us new rights
Synonyms:
give; grant
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 39
Meaning:
Be the cause or source of
Example:
Our meeting afforded much interesting information
Synonyms:
afford; give; yield
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
furnish; provide; render; supply (give something useful or necessary to)
Verb group:
give (cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "give"):
open; open up (make available)
allow; allow for; leave; provide (make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Sense 40
Meaning:
Endure the loss of
Example:
I gave two sons to the war
Synonyms:
give; sacrifice
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
free; give up; release; relinquish; resign (part with a possession or right)
Verb group:
devote; give; pay (dedicate)
commit; consecrate; dedicate; devote; give (give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Sense 41
Meaning:
Afford access to
Example:
The French doors give onto a terrace
Synonyms:
afford; give; open
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Sentence frame:
Something is ----ing PP
Sense 42
Meaning:
Deliver in exchange or recompense
Example:
I'll give you three books for four CDs
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
compensate; indemnify; recompense; repair (make amends for; pay compensation for)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody PP
Sense 43
Meaning:
Emit or utter
Example:
give a yelp
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Sense 44
Meaning:
Execute and deliver
Example:
Give bond
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Hypernyms (to "give" is one way to...):
execute (carry out the legalities of)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Context examples:
Overall, they want better lives for their children than they think they can give them.
(Adoption, NIH)
These T cells are given back to the patient to help the immune system fight disease.
(Adoptive cellular therapy, NCI Dictionary)
It can also refer to the way it is given, the dose, or how often it is given.
(Administration, NCI Dictionary)
The act of having given something (e.g., a medication or test).
(Administered, NCI Thesaurus)
Our findings suggest that combined exposures to alcohol and tobacco have a synergistic effect on SIDS risk, given that dual exposure was associated with substantially higher risk than either exposure alone.
(Combined prenatal smoking and drinking greatly increases SIDS risk, National Institutes of Health)
Then she gave me a long lecture on my sins, and told me to sit and think them over while she just 'lost' herself for a moment.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
The number of lymphocytes found in a given volume of blood.
(Absolute Blood Lymphocyte Count, NCI Thesaurus)
Current tests take between two to ten days to give a result.
(Biosensor promises early malaria diagnosis, SciDev.Net)
A type of radiation therapy given only to the part of the breast that has cancer in it.
(Accelerated partial-breast irradiation, NCI Dictionary)
A chemical that gives off hydrogen ions in water and forms salts by combining with certain metals.
(Acid, NCI Dictionary)
