What does “give” mean?
- 1
verbto hand something to someone or let them have it
Can you give me that pen, please?
- 2
verbto do or perform an action
She gave a great speech at the wedding.
- 3
verbto make someone have a feeling or experience
Loud music gives me a headache.
Give at a glance
- Part of speech
- verb
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /ɡɪv/ · GIV
- Forms
- gave, given
How to use “give” correctly
Two patterns: “give her the book” or “give the book to her”. “Give up” means stop trying.
Common phrases with “give”
- give up
- give back
- give sb a call
- give advice
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Word family
- giver
- given
Idioms with “give”
- Give someone a run for their money: Compete very strongly against someone who is expected to win.
- Give it your best shot: Try as hard as you can, even if you might not succeed.
- Give someone the cold shoulder: To ignore someone or treat them in an unfriendly way on purpose.
- Give someone the benefit of the doubt: To believe someone is honest or right even though you cannot be sure.
“give” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- begin verbA1to start doing something or to start happening
- break verbA1to make something separate into pieces or stop working
- bring verbA1to take someone or something with you to a place
- build verbA1to make a building or other structure by putting parts together
- change verbA1to become different, or make someone or something different
- check verbA1to look at something to see if it is correct, safe or as it should be
- close verbA1to shut something, or to stop being open
- come verbA1to move toward the speaker or the place being talked about