give

verb

ˈgiv How to pronounce give (audio)
Definition of givenext
1
as in to donate
to make a present of thanked all the tutors who generously gave their time to help students after school

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2
as in to leave
to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another gave my camera to my father to hold while I went swimming

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3
as in to offer
to bring before the public in performance or exhibition the author will give a reading from her latest work at 7:00 p.m.

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4
as in to collapse
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure they loaded the shopping cart with so much food it gave under all the weight

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5
as in to pay
to hand over or use up in payment I wouldn't give a nickel for such a run-down car

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6
as in to express
to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion) she gave her opinion on the matter very firmly and unmistakably

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7
as in to devote
to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention totally gave himself to his studies in the hopes of winning a scholarship for next year

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8
as in to yield
to produce as revenue a company that consistently gives $30 million in profits to the owner

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9
as in to provide
to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption gave him my e-mail address

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10
as in to run by
to put before another for acceptance or consideration she gave the committee her grant proposal

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11
as in to transmit
to cause (something) to pass from one to another she gave her cold to me, and now I'm so sick that I can barely get out of bed

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb give contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of give are afford, bestow, confer, donate, and present. While all these words mean "to convey to another as a possession," give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.

give alms
gave her a ride on a pony
give my love to your mother

When is it sensible to use afford instead of give?

Although the words afford and give have much in common, afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver.

the trees afford shade
a development that affords us some hope

When can bestow be used instead of give?

While the synonyms bestow and give are close in meaning, bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

bestow unwanted advice

When is confer a more appropriate choice than give?

While in some cases nearly identical to give, confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

confer an honorary degree

In what contexts can donate take the place of give?

The synonyms donate and give are sometimes interchangeable, but donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

donate a piano to the orphanage

When might present be a better fit than give?

The meanings of present and give largely overlap; however, present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

present an award

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of give The second half was much quieter and gave me space to seek out more personal, intimate stories. —Emily Bogle, NPR, 27 May 2025 The former monk also gave specific advice on how to hone in on what's important in life. —Melody Chiu, People.com, 27 May 2025 What’s the Takeaway for People With Heart Failure? Experiencing issues with planning and thinking can be especially problematic for people with heart failure, given the complex self-care required to manage the condition. —Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 16 May 2025 This widespread emotional connection to nature gives communicators a powerful entry point. —Solitaire Townsend, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for give
Recent Examples of Synonyms for give
  1. donate
  2. leave
  3. offer
  4. collapse
  5. pay
  6. express
  7. devote
  8. yield
Verb
  • Los Angeles has the highest number of homeless veterans in the country — which is surprising, since it's also got a massive, 388-acre Veterans Affairs campus that was donated in 1888 as a soldiers' home.
    — Quil Lawrence, NPR, 26 May 2025
  • All proceeds will be donated to the Roger Federer Foundation.
    — Alexandra Pastore, Footwear News, 26 May 2025
Definition of donate
Verb
  • The only two albums left in her catalog yet to be released as a re-recording are Reputation and her debut album.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
  • Ground crews attacked the right flank of the fire while an air tanker made retardant drops across the head and left flank.
    — CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025
Definition of leave
Verb
  • The episode offered clarity on what happened between the two leads after Ellie (Bella Ramsey) learned what Joel did last season.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • On the nose, the Tequila offers aromas of cooked agave, citrus, herbal notes, and a hint of savory character.
    — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Definition of offer
Verb
  • The security perimeter collapses, and the risk increases exponentially.
    — Craig Davies, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • And the fact that talks have not yet collapsed is an indication that the U.S. may be considering this red line.
    — Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 May 2025
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • That hasn’t stopped companies from throwing millions of dollars in bonuses and pay packages at star researchers, according to seven sources familiar with the matter.
    — Anna Tong, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • However, the state auditor claimed that Favre never paid interest and sued him in 2024 for an unpaid $729,000, according to Forbes.
    — Caroline Blair, People.com, 21 May 2025
Definition of pay
Verb
  • All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium.
    — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 29 May 2025
  • Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of TIME editors.
    — Time, Time, 29 May 2025
Definition of express
Verb
  • Islam recommends devoting no more than 5% of your portfolio to thematic ETFs, for example.
    — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 23 May 2025
  • Regardless of high prices, Bulgari’s Creative Director Lucia Silvestri has devoted herself to making the pieces more wearable, articulated, and comfortable on the body.
    — Daisy Shaw-Ellis, Vogue, 20 May 2025
Definition of devote
Verb
  • But then the bullpen yielded eight runs over the final three innings and the A’s lost, 10-5.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
  • The shift in setting, from the States to Sicily, should yield evocative and, at least for a video game, new sights: The story itself begins in the Sicilian sulfur mines before whisking players through a rural landscape of pretty villages and aromatic lemon groves.
    — Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 23 May 2025
Definition of yield

Phrases Containing give

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gits
give
give a hang
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Cite this Entry

“Give.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/give. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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