verb (
mainly transitive)
gives, giving, gave (
ɡeɪv),
given (
ˈɡɪvən)
1. (also intransitive) to present or deliver voluntarily (something that is one's own) to the permanent possession of another or others
2. (often foll by for) to transfer (something that is one's own, esp money) to the possession of another as part of an exchange: to give fifty pounds for a painting
3. to place in the temporary possession of another: I gave him my watch while I went swimming
4. when intr, foll by of. to grant, provide, or bestow: give me some advice
5. to administer: to give a reprimand
6. to award or attribute: to give blame, praise, etc
7. to be a source of: he gives no trouble
8. to impart or communicate: to give news, give a person a cold
9. to utter or emit: to give a shout
10. to perform, make, or do: the car gave a jolt and stopped
11. to sacrifice or devote: he gave his life for his country
12. to surrender: to give place to others
13. to concede or yield: I will give you this game
14. (intransitive) (informal) to happen: what gives?
15. (often foll by to) to cause; lead: she gave me to believe that she would come
16. (foll by for) to value (something) at: I don't give anything for his promises
17. to perform or present as an entertainment: to give a play
18. to propose as a toast: I give you the Queen
19. (intransitive) to yield or break under force or pressure: this surface will give if you sit on it, his courage will never give
20. give as good as one gets, to respond to verbal or bodily blows to at least an equal extent as those received
21. give battle, to commence fighting
22. (
often foll by to)
give birth - to bear (offspring)
- to produce, originate, or create (an idea, plan, etc)
23. (slang) give a person five, give a person some skin, to greet or congratulate someone by slapping raised hands
24. give ground, to draw back or retreat
25. (slang) give it up for someone, to applaud someone
26. (Brit, slang) give someone one, to have sex with someone
27. give rise to, to be the cause of
28. (informal) give me, I prefer: give me hot weather any day!
29. give or take, plus or minus: three thousand people came, give or take a few hundred
30. give way, See way (sense 24)
31. (informal) give a person what for, to punish or reprimand a person severely