verb
Very common
gave
gayv
Gave (verb) means past tense of give: handed over, provided or transferred something to someone. Example: “He gave her his coat when it started raining.”
verb
1
Past tense of give: handed over, provided or transferred something to someone.
"He gave her his coat when it started raining."
"The council gave the club a three-year grant."
"My neighbour gave me a jar of homemade jam."
2
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."
"She gave a talk on coastal erosion."
"The film gave me a real fright last night."
How to use gave
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe past tense of give.
When to use it
Give is irregular: give, gave, given. Gave is the simple past and never follows have — it is "has given", not "has gave".
Memory tip
There is no such word as gived. Use gave for the simple past and given after have, has or had.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
gave up
gave in
gave away
gave birth
gave rise to
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He _____ her his coat when it started raining.
Etymology
From Old English giefan, of Germanic origin, reinforced by Old Norse gefa.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for gave
See all rhymes for 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.
What is the meaning of gave?
"gave" (verb) means past tense of give: handed over, provided or transferred something to someone.
What is another word for gave?
Other words for "gave" include handed, provided, donated, supplied, granted, caused.
