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- DictionaryGive/ɡiv/
verb
- 1. freely transfer the possession of (something) to (someone); hand over to: "the check given to the jeweler proved worthless" Similar present withprovide withsupply withfurnish withgift withhandlet someone haveofferprofferawardgrantbestowaccordconferdonatecontributeput uphand overturn overmake overleavewillbequeathpledgevouchsafelendslipinformal:fork outshell outlay outcough upstump upante uppony upOpposite receiveaccepttakewithhold
- ▪ administer (medicine): "she was given antibiotics"
- ▪ hand over (an amount) in exchange or payment; pay: "how much did you give for that?"
- ▪ used hyperbolically to express how greatly one wants to have or do something: "I'd give anything for a cup of tea" Similar sacrificegive uprelinquishdevotededicateset aside
- ▪ commit, consign, or entrust: "a baby given into their care by the accident of her birth" Similar entrustcommitput into someone's handsconsignassignrenderformal:commend
- ▪ freely devote, set aside, or sacrifice for a purpose: "all who have given thought to the matter agree" Similar present withprovide withsupply withfurnish withgift withhandlet someone haveofferprofferawardgrantbestowaccordconferdonatecontributeput uphand overturn overmake overleavewillbequeathpledgevouchsafelendslipinformal:fork outshell outlay outcough upstump upante uppony upOpposite receiveaccepttakewithhold
- ▪ (of a man) sanction the marriage of (his daughter) to someone: dated "he gave her in marriage to an English noble"
- ▪ consent to have sexual intercourse with (someone): dated "she gave herself to the king in order to obtain the pardon of her father"
- ▪ cite or present when making a toast or introducing a speaker or entertainer: "for your entertainment this evening I give you … Mister Albert DeNiro!"
- 2. cause or allow (someone or something) to have (something, especially something abstract); provide or supply with: "you gave me such a fright" Similar allowpermitlet havegrantaccordoffershowdisplayset outset forthindicatedetailgive details oflistcausebe a source ofmakecreateoccasionadministerdeliverdealinflictimpose
- ▪ bestow (love, affection, or other emotional support): "his parents gave him the encouragement he needed to succeed" Similar present withprovide withsupply withfurnish withgift withhandlet someone haveofferprofferawardgrantbestowaccordconferdonatecontributeput uphand overturn overmake overleavewillbequeathpledgevouchsafelendslipinformal:fork outshell outlay outcough upstump upante uppony upOpposite receiveaccepttakewithhold
- ▪ sentence (someone) to (a specified penalty): "for the first offense I was given a fine" Similar administerdeliverdealinflictimpose
- ▪ allot or assign (a score) to: "I gave it five out of ten"
- ▪ allow (someone) to have (a specified amount of time) for an activity or undertaking: "give me a second to bring the car around"
- ▪ pass on (an illness or infection) to (someone): "I hope I don't give you my cold"
- ▪ communicate or impart (a message) to (someone): "give my love to all the girls" Similar conveypass onimpartcommunicatetransmittransfersenddeliverrelaypurveytell
- ▪ make a connection to allow (someone) to speak to (someone else) on the phone: "give me the police"
- 3. carry out or perform (a specified action): "I gave a bow" Similar performexecutecarry outmakedo
- ▪ utter or produce (a sound): "he gave a gasp" Similar utterlet outemitproducemake
- ▪ present (an appearance or impression): "he gave no sign of life" Similar showdisplayset outset forthindicatedetailgive details oflist
- ▪ provide (a party or social meal) as host or hostess: "a dinner given in honor of a Canadian diplomat" Similar organizearrangelay onprovidebe responsible forthrowhostholdhave
- 4. yield as a product or result: "milk is sometimes added to give a richer cheese" Similar produceyieldaffordresult inimpartlend
- ▪ emit odor, vapor, or similar substances: "it can be burned without giving off toxic fumes"
- 5. concede or yield (something) as valid or deserved in respect of (someone): "give him his due"
- 6. state or put forward (information or argument): "he did not give his name"
- ▪ pledge or assign as a guarantee: "I give you my word"
- ▪ say to (someone) as an excuse or inappropriate answer: "don't give me any of your back talk" Similar administerdeliverdealinflictimpose
- ▪ deliver (a judgment) authoritatively: "I gave my verdict"
- ▪ predict that (an activity, undertaking, or relationship) will last no longer than (a specified time): informal "this is a place that will not improve with time—I give it three weeks"
- ▪ tell what one knows: informal "okay, give—what's that all about?"
- 7. alter in shape under pressure rather than resist or break: "that chair doesn't give" Similar give waycave incollapsebreakfall apartcome apartbendbucklesink
- ▪ yield or give way to pressure: "the heavy door didn't give until the fifth push" Similar give waycave incollapsebreakfall apartcome apartbendbucklesink
- ▪ concede defeat; surrender: informal North American "I give!"
noun
- 1. capacity to bend or alter in shape under pressure; elasticity: "plastic pots that have enough give to accommodate the vigorous roots"
- ▪ ability to adapt or comply; flexibility: "there is no give at all in the British position"
Word Origin Old Englishgiefan, gefan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch geven and German geben.
Scrabble Points: 8
G
2I
1V
4E
1
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