📒 to hand something to somebody so that they can look at it, use it or keep it for a time
- give something to somebody Give the letter to your mother when you've read it.
- She gave her ticket to the woman at the check-in desk.
- give somebody something Give your mother the letter.
📒 to hand something to somebody as a present; to allow somebody to have something as a present
- give somebody something What are you giving your father for his birthday?
- She was given a huge bunch of flowers.
- Did you give the waiter a tip?
📒 to provide somebody with something
- give somebody something They were all thirsty so I gave them a drink.
- Give me your name and address.
- We've been given a 2 per cent pay increase.
📒 to pay money to a charity, etc., to help people
- We need your help—please give generously.
- give to something They both gave regularly to charity.
- give something I gave a small donation.
📒 to pay in order to have or do something
- give somebody something I'll give you £100 and not a penny more!
- give somebody something for something How much will you give me for the car?
- give something I'd give anything to see him again.
📒 used with a noun to describe a particular action, giving the same meaning as the related verb
- give something She gave a shrug of her shoulders (= shrugged).
- He turned to us and gave a big smile (= smiled broadly).
- She looked up from her work and gave a yawn (= yawned).
📒 to produce a particular feeling in somebody
- All that driving has given me a headache.
- Go for a walk. It'll give you an appetite.
📒 to make a phone call to somebody
- Give me a call tomorrow.
- (British English) I'll give you a ring.
📒 to judge somebody/something to be of a particular standard
- give somebody/something sth She had given the assignment an A.
- I give it ten out of ten for originality.
- give something He virtually never gives a grade of less than C.
📒 to pass an illness onto somebody and make them ill
- give somebody something You've given me your cold.
- give something to somebody She'd given the bug to all her colleagues.
📒 to make somebody suffer a particular punishment
- give somebody something The judge gave him a nine-month suspended sentence.
- give something to somebody We discussed what punishment should be given to the boys.
📒 if you give a party, you organize it and invite people
- We're giving a party to celebrate our silver wedding.
📒 to perform something in public
- give something He gave a rousing performance of the Bob Marley song.
- She gave a reading from her latest volume of poetry.
- The President will be giving a press conference this afternoon.
📒 to use time, energy, etc. for somebody/something
- give somebody/something sth I gave the matter a lot of thought.
- give something to somebody/something I gave a lot of thought to the matter.
- The government has given top priority to reforming the tax system.
📒 to predict that something will last a particular length of time
- That marriage won't last. I'll give them two years at the outside.
📒 to say that a player or the ball is in a particular position or that a goal has been scored
- give somebody/something + adj. The umpire gave the ball out.
- give something The ref gave the goal.
📒 to bend or stretch under pressure
- The branch began to give under his weight.
- (figurative) We can't go on like this—something's got to give.
📒 to agree to change your mind or give up some of your demands
- You're going to have to give a little.
📒 used to tell somebody that you do not accept what they say
- ‘I didn't have time to do it.’ ‘Oh, don't give me that!’
📒 to be willing, in a relationship, to accept what somebody else wants and to give up some of what you want
- You're going to have to learn to give and take.
📒 to react with equal force when somebody attacks or criticizes you
- She can give as good as she gets.
📒 to show your approval of somebody by clapping your hands
- Give it up for Ed Sheeran!
📒 used to say that you prefer a particular thing or person to the one that has just been mentioned
- We don't go out much. Give me a quiet night in front of the TV any day!
📒 if something is correct give or take a particular amount, it is approximately correct
- It'll take about three weeks, give or take a day or so.
📒 to make somebody believe/understand something
- I was given to understand that she had resigned.
📒 to severely punish or criticize somebody for doing something wrong
- My son was rude to my friends so I gave him what for.
📒 used to ask people to drink a toast to somebody
- Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Geoff Ogilby!
📒 used when you are admitting that something is true
📒 what is happening?; what is the news?