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give
/ɡɪv/
to transfer possession or control
She gave her friend a book for her birthday.
She transferred possession of a book to her friend as a gift.
general
to transfer possession or control of something to someone else
He gave me his old laptop when he upgraded.
He transferred ownership of his old laptop to me after buying a new one.
The company gave employees a bonus this year.
The company provided employees with additional money as a reward.
Can be used with direct objects (e.g., 'give a gift') or indirect objects (e.g., 'give to someone').
general
to provide or supply something
The restaurant gives free water to all customers.
The restaurant provides complimentary water to everyone who dines there.
She gave her advice freely to anyone who asked.
She willingly provided her advice to anyone who sought it.
Often used with abstract nouns like 'advice', 'support', or 'attention'.
general
to yield or surrender something
He gave in to his child's demands after hours of arguing.
He surrendered to his child's requests after a long disagreement.
The team gave up their lead in the final minutes of the game.
The team lost their advantage in the last part of the game.
Can imply surrendering control, rights, or advantages.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Phrasal Verbs
Many common phrasal verbs with 'give' (e.g., 'give up', 'give in') have distinct meanings that differ from the base verb.
Direct and Indirect Objects
The verb 'give' can take both direct objects (e.g., 'give a gift') and indirect objects (e.g., 'give to someone').
Gold Rule
Pronoun Order
When using 'give' with both a direct and indirect object, the indirect object (recipient) typically comes first (e.g., 'Give me the book').
Word Origin
Old English 'giefan', from Proto-Germanic 'gebanan', meaning 'to give'. Related to Old Norse 'gefa' and Gothic 'giban'.
Usage Notes
The verb 'give' is highly versatile and can be used in both literal and figurative contexts. It often appears in phrasal verbs (e.g., 'give up', 'give in') and idiomatic expressions (e.g., 'give someone a break').
Word Breakdown
give
to transfer or provide
rootEnglish Dictionary