gave
8 synonyms and 3 antonyms for gave, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — Past tense of give: handed over, provided or transferred something to someone.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
Past tense of give: handed over, provided or transferred something to someone.
“He gave her his coat when it started raining.”
Opposites
2. verb
Past tense of give in the sense of causing, producing or delivering something, as in an action, feeling or performance.
“The news gave us all a shock.”
How to Use Gave
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Give is irregular: give, gave, given. Gave is the simple past and never follows have — it is "has given", not "has gave".
Etymology
From Old English giefan, of Germanic origin, reinforced by Old Norse gefa.
Full origin of gave →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between gave and given?
Gave is the simple past and stands alone: "I gave it to him yesterday." Given is the past participle and needs an auxiliary verb: "I have given it to him," or "it was given to him." Saying "I have gave" is a common but nonstandard error.
What does "it gave" mean in slang?
In recent internet slang, mainly from drag and Black American English, "it gave" plus a noun means something projected a particular vibe — "it gave main character energy". Used alone and approvingly, "it gave" means it delivered.