verb

give

GIHV

verb

To hand over or transfer something to someone.

"She gave him the keys before she left."

"Can you give me a hand with these boxes?"

To provide or make something available.

"The course gives students hands-on experience."

To yield or bend under pressure.

"The old floorboards gave slightly under his weight."

noun

The amount something bends or flexes under pressure; springiness.

"There's a bit of give in this mattress."

How to Use Give

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo hand something over to someone, or (as a noun) the amount of flex or stretch in something.

Common pairings

give something up give it a try a little give

Word Forms

gave past tense, given past tense, give plural, gave plural, gives singular, give singular, gave singular, givest singular, gavest singular, giveth singular

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Can you _____ me a hand with these boxes?

Etymology

From Old English giefan, merged with Old Norse gefa, both meaning "to give," from a common Germanic root.

Synonyms

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accord add assign award bestow bequeath confer contribute do deliver donate furnish

Antonyms

receive take

Related Words

accord take add accomplish kill lose do catch

Rhymes for give

Ive five dive live hive jive vive olive drive alive waive naive

See all rhymes for give →

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accord add assign award bestow bequeath confer contribute do deliver donate furnish