giving Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of giving
    gift.
  2. noun the imparting of news or promises etc.
    • he gave us the news and made a great show of the giving
    • giving his word of honor seemed to come too easily
  3. noun disposing of property by voluntary transfer without receiving value in return
    • the alumni followed a program of annual giving
  4. verb cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
    give.
    • She gave him a black eye
    • The draft gave me a cold
  5. verb be the cause or source of
    afford; yield; give.
    • He gave me a lot of trouble
    • Our meeting afforded much interesting information
  6. verb transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody
    give.
    • I gave her my money
    • can you give me lessons?
    • She gave the children lots of love and tender loving care
  7. verb convey or reveal information
    give.
    • Give one's name
  8. verb convey, as of a compliment, regards, attention, etc.; bestow
    pay; give.
    • Don't pay him any mind
    • give the orders
    • Give him my best regards
    • pay attention
  9. verb organize or be responsible for
    make; hold; throw; have; give.
    • hold a reception
    • have, throw, or make a party
    • give a course
  10. verb convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture
    throw; give.
    • Throw a glance
    • She gave me a dirty look
  11. verb give as a present; make a gift of
    present; gift; give.
    • What will you give her for her birthday?
  12. verb cause to happen or be responsible for
    yield; give.
    • His two singles gave the team the victory
  13. verb dedicate
    pay; devote; give.
    • give thought to
    • give priority to
    • pay attention to
  14. verb give or supply
    generate; return; yield; render; give.
    • The cow brings in 5 liters of milk
    • This year's crop yielded 1,000 bushels of corn
    • The estate renders some revenue for the family
  15. verb transmit (knowledge or skills)
    leave; give; pass on; impart.
    • give a secret to the Russians
    • leave your name and address here
    • impart a new skill to the students
  16. verb bring about
    establish; give.
    • The trompe l'oeil-illusion establishes depth
  17. verb leave with; give temporarily
    give.
    • Can I give you my keys while I go in the pool?
    • Can I give you the children for the weekend?
  18. verb emit or utter
    give.
    • Give a gulp
    • give a yelp
  19. verb endure the loss of
    sacrifice; give.
    • He gave his life for his children
    • I gave two sons to the war
  20. verb place into the hands or custody of
    give; turn over; reach; hand; pass; pass on.
    • hand me the spoon, please
    • Turn the files over to me, please
    • He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers
  21. verb give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause
    devote; commit; consecrate; dedicate; give.
    • She committed herself to the work of God
    • give one's talents to a good cause
    • consecrate your life to the church
  22. verb give (as medicine)
    give.
    • I gave him the drug
  23. verb give or convey physically
    apply; give.
    • She gave him First Aid
    • I gave him a punch in the nose
  24. verb bestow
    render; give.
    • give homage
    • render thanks
  25. verb bestow, especially officially
    give; grant.
    • grant a degree
    • give a divorce
    • This bill grants us new rights
  26. verb move in order to make room for someone for something
    ease up; give way; move over; yield; give.
    • The park gave way to a supermarket
    • `Move over,' he told the crowd
  27. verb give food to
    feed; give.
    • Feed the starving children in India
    • don't give the child this tough meat
  28. verb contribute to some cause
    chip in; contribute; kick in; give.
    • I gave at the office
  29. verb break down, literally or metaphorically
    collapse; founder; give; give way; break; cave in; fall in.
    • The wall collapsed
    • The business collapsed
    • The dam broke
    • The roof collapsed
    • The wall gave in
    • The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice
  30. verb estimate the duration or outcome of something
    give.
    • He gave the patient three months to live
    • I gave him a very good chance at success
  31. verb execute and deliver
    give.
    • Give bond
  32. verb deliver in exchange or recompense
    give.
    • I'll give you three books for four CDs
  33. verb afford access to
    afford; open; give.
    • the door opens to the patio
    • The French doors give onto a terrace
  34. verb present to view
    give.
    • He gave the sign to start
  35. verb perform for an audience
    give.
    • Pollini is giving another concert in New York
  36. verb be flexible under stress of physical force
    yield; give.
    • This material doesn't give
  37. verb propose
    give.
    • He gave the first of many toasts at the birthday party
  38. verb accord by verdict
    give.
    • give a decision for the plaintiff
  39. verb manifest or show
    give.
    • This student gives promise of real creativity
    • The office gave evidence of tampering
  40. verb offer in good faith
    give.
    • He gave her his word
  41. verb submit for consideration, judgment, or use
    give.
    • give one's opinion
    • give an excuse
  42. verb guide or direct, as by behavior of persuasion
    give.
    • You gave me to think that you agreed with me
  43. verb allow to have or take
    give.
    • I give you two minutes to respond
  44. verb inflict as a punishment
    give.
    • She gave the boy a good spanking
    • The judge gave me 10 years
  45. verb occur
    give.
    • what gives?
  46. verb consent to engage in sexual intercourse with a man
    give.
    • She gave herself to many men
  47. verb proffer (a body part)
    give.
    • She gave her hand to her little sister
  48. adjective satellite given or giving freely
    liberal; big; openhanded; bountiful; freehanded; bighearted; bounteous; handsome.
    • was a big tipper
    • the bounteous goodness of God
    • bountiful compliments
    • a freehanded host
    • a handsome allowance
    • Saturday's child is loving and giving
    • a liberal backer of the arts
    • a munificent gift
    • her fond and openhanded grandfather

WordNet


Giv"ing noun
Definitions
  1. The act of bestowing as a gift; a conferring or imparting.
  2. A gift; a benefaction. R. Pope.
  3. The act of softening, breaking, or yielding. "Upon the first giving of the weather." Addison.
    His givings out were of an infinite distance From his true meant design. Shak.

Webster 1913