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giving
/ˈɡɪvɪŋ/
the act of transferring something
Her act of giving was deeply appreciated by the community.
The community greatly valued her voluntary contribution of time or resources.
neutral
the act of presenting or transferring something to someone else
The charity relies on the giving of time and money from volunteers.
Charity work depends on people voluntarily donating their time and financial resources.
Often implies voluntary or generous action, but not always. Can be formal or informal depending on context.
formal
a presentation or transfer, especially in a formal or ceremonial context
The giving of the award took place during the ceremony.
The award was formally presented during the event.
Common in contexts like awards, certificates, or legal transfers.
Collocations
giving backreturning benefits to society or a communitygiving inyielding or surrendering under pressuregiving upabandoning or ceasing an effort
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish 'giving' as noun vs. verb
'Giving' can be a noun (e.g., 'Her giving is inspiring') or part of a verb phrase (e.g., 'She is giving generously'). Pay attention to context to determine its role.
Gold Rule
Use 'giving' for voluntary actions
When referring to acts of generosity or charity, 'giving' implies a voluntary transfer of something valuable (time, money, resources).
Word Origin
From Old English 'giefan' (to give), related to Old Norse 'gefa' and German 'geben'. The gerund form '-ing' was added to create a noun meaning 'the act of giving'.
Usage Notes
The word 'giving' is often used in contexts involving generosity, charity, or formal presentations. It can function as a noun (e.g., 'the giving of gifts') or as part of a verb phrase (e.g., 'She is giving generously'). Avoid confusing it with the present participle of 'give' in continuous tenses (e.g., 'She is giving a speech').
Word Breakdown
give
to transfer or present something
root-ing
forms a gerund or present participle
suffixEnglish Dictionary