English Profile

give · verb T

/gɪv/Full view

give (PROVIDE)

A1 + two objects to provide someone with something

Dictionary examples:

Her parents gave her a car for her birthday.

Can you give me a date for another appointment?

Can you give this book to Andrea?

Learner example:

Yesterday was my birthday and my mother gave me a small dictionary. (Key English Test; A2; Chinese)

give (PUT NEAR)

A2 + two objects to put something near someone or in their hand so that they can use it or look at it

Dictionary examples:

Can you give me that pen?

He poured a cup of coffee and gave it to Isabel.

Learner example:

We gave the monkeys some bananas to eat and played with them. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Tamil)

give sb a call/ring

A2 to telephone someone

Dictionary example:

Why don't you just give him a call?

Learner example:

[If] you have other questions, you can give me a call. (Key English Test; A2; Italian)

give (TELL)

A2 to tell someone something

Dictionary examples:

Can you give Jo a message?

The woman refused to give her name.

She gave me some really useful advice.

Learner example:

I really hope you can give me some advice. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Chinese)

give a party

A2 to have a party

Dictionary example:

They're always giving parties.

Learner example:

He's a very nice guy, and I would like to give him a surprise party. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Thai)

give (ALLOW)

B1 + two objects to allow someone to have a right or an opportunity

Dictionary example:

We didn't really give him a chance to explain.

Learner example:

I'll see you at seven o'clock to give you the chance to explain. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

give (CAUSE)

B1 + two objects to produce or cause something

Dictionary examples:

What you said gives me an idea.

The sudden noise gave me quite a shock.

This announcement will give hope to millions of sufferers.

Learner example:

I hope this [will] give you an idea of what I like. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

give (ALLOW TIME)

B1 + two objects to allow someone or something a particular amount of time

Dictionary example:

I'm nearly ready - just give me a few minutes.

Learner example:

Do you think you would be able to give me 2 hours more on Friday? (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

give (PAY MONEY)

B1 + two objects to pay someone a particular amount of money for something

Dictionary example:

I gave him $40 for his old camera.

Learner example:

Jeffry gave me a mechanical pen[ci]l while Jack and Eugene gave me twenty dollars. (Key English Test; A2; Malay)

give (DO)

B1 to perform an action

Dictionary examples:

She gave a cry.

He gave her a kiss on the cheek.

She gave me a big hug.

Learner example:

When he saw me, he gave me a big, warm hug and a sweet kiss. (First Certificate in English; B2; Greek)

give a performance/speech, etc.

B2 to perform or speak in public

Dictionary example:

Tony gave a great speech to open the conference.

Learner example:

We would be very happy if you [could] come to our school and give a speech. (First Certificate in English; B2; Polish)

give birth

B2 When a woman or an animal gives birth, she produces a baby from her body.

Dictionary example:

She gave birth to twins.

Learner example:

The most important person in my life is the person who gave birth to me, my mother. (First Certificate in English; B2; Greek)

give rise to sth

C2 to cause something

Dictionary example:

The bacteria live in the human body but do not give rise to any symptoms.

Learner example:

That visit gave rise to a fruitful discussion in which various opinions were voiced and here are some comments on them. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Greek)

give way

C2 If something gives way, it falls because it is not strong enough to support the weight on top of it.

Dictionary example:

The wooden seats gave way under the weight of the crowd.

Learner example:

Fred's voice trailed off as he felt his legs give way beneath him. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Chinese)

give sb the benefit of the doubt

C2 to choose to believe what someone tells you even though it may be wrong or a lie

Dictionary example:

She says her train was late, so I suppose we'd better give her the benefit of the doubt.

Learner example:

Every time our parents tell us ".. have you thought about it, are you sure you are not making a mistake?" we just answer "sure I have, no problem." Next time they do, let's give them the benefit of the doubt and let's think twice about the subject. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

give way to sth

B2 when one thing or feeling changes to a different one

Dictionary example:

My excitement gave way to fear when I drove a car for the first time.

Learner example:

The feeling of anger they first had disappeared and gave way to a feeling of disappointment. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; French)

give sb/have an edge on/over sb/sth

C2 to be slightly better than someone or something else

Dictionary example:

Because of her experience she has an edge over the other applicants.

Learner example:

Reading the latest information, attending conferences and s[y]mposiums and being well informed in general about your field, gives you an edge over your competitors. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)

give sb a hard time

C2 to criticize someone and make them feel guilty about something they have done

Dictionary example:

Ever since I missed that catch, the other players have been giving me a hard time.

Learner example:

I'm not saying that I wasn't normal or anything, I just gave my family a hard time sometimes. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Swedish)

give away sth or give sth away (FREE)

B1 to give something to someone without asking for payment

Dictionary example:

The bakery is giving away a sample to every customer.

Learner example:

She decided to give away everything she had and go to a place where nobody could find her. (First Certificate in English; B2; Turkish)

give away sth or give sth away (SECRET)

B2 to tell people something secret, often without intending to

Dictionary example:

The party was supposed to be a surprise, but Sharon gave it away.

Learner example:

He gave Matthew's secret away and this made his life come to an end. (First Certificate in English; B2; Chinese)

give back sth or give sth back

A2 to return something to the person who gave it to you

Dictionary example:

Has she given you those books back yet?

Learner example:

Please give it back to me tomorrow. (Key English Test; A2; Spanish)

give in (AGREE)

B1 to finally agree to what someone wants, after refusing for a period of time

Dictionary example:

He nagged me so much for a new bike that eventually I gave in.

Learner example:

What you should do is talk to your parents and explain your problem to them. [Your] parents may give in! (Preliminary English Test; B1; Russian)

give in (ADMIT DEFEAT)

B2 to accept that you have been defeated and agree to stop competing or fighting

Dictionary example:

You'll never guess the answer - do you give in?

give out sth or give sth out

B1 to give something to a large number of people

Dictionary examples:

Please give these worksheets out, Maria.

I said I'd give out leaflets for them in town.

Learner example:

At the concert, what I had to do was to give out refreshments to the audience. (First Certificate in English; B2; Greek)

give up sth or give sth up (ACTIVITY)

B1 to stop doing a regular activity or job

Dictionary example:

We're going to give up our sports club membership after this year.

Learner example:

I believe that you should continue sports rather than music for as you mentioned in your letter you have always done sports and you can't give all that up for music classes. (First Certificate in English; B2; French)

give up sth or give sth up (HABIT)

B1 If you give up a habit, such as smoking, or something such as alcohol, you stop doing it or using it.

Dictionary example:

I gave up smoking two years ago.

Learner example:

The reason why he is not happy could be that he can't give up drinking so much and it gets him down. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

give up

B2 to stop doing an activity or piece of work before you have completed it, usually because it is too difficult

Dictionary example:

I had to give up halfway through the race.

Learner example:

The most important thing is that you should keep doing it. Don't give up!! (First Certificate in English; B2; Japanese)