Verb A1 — Beginner /ɡɪv/

Give — Definition, Examples & Pronunciation

To pass something to another person — one of the most fundamental verbs in English grammar.

Quick Definition

To give means to pass something to someone else or to provide them with something.

What Does Give Mean?

The word give is one of the most frequently used words in the English language. It appears in everyday conversation, academic writing, news media, and literature at A1 — Beginner level. Learners who master give alongside its common collocations and word family will find their fluency improving rapidly.

Understanding exactly when and how to use give requires attention to context. Many ESL learners know the basic meaning but struggle with the subtle differences between give and its nearest synonyms. Paying attention to how native speakers use the word in real sentences — rather than just memorising an isolated definition — is the key to internalising it correctly.

The word family built around give extends its usefulness considerably. Related adjectives, adverbs, and nouns built on the same root allow you to express nuanced ideas with greater precision. When you learn give, try to also learn two or three related forms so that you can use the concept flexibly across different grammatical contexts.

Example Sentences

SentenceUsage note
She needed to give in this situation.basic use
It is give to understand the context.adjective/verb context
The teacher asked students to give the exercise.educational context

Synonyms

provideofferpresentdonatehand oversupplygrant

Antonyms

takereceivekeepwithholdremove

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

Common mistake: misusing give without correct grammar pattern.

Correct: always study give in full sentence context to see how it combines with other words.

Related Vocabulary

All Common Words → Grammar Glossary Vocabulary Hub Flash Cards

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “give”

What does give mean?
Give means: To pass something to another person or to provide something. It is commonly used at A1 — Beginner level in English and appears frequently in both spoken and written English.
What part of speech is give?
Give is a verb. It describes an action or state. Understanding the part of speech helps you use give in grammatically correct sentences.
How do you use give in a sentence?
Here are three examples: 1) 'This is a give situation.' 2) 'We need to give carefully.' 3) 'The give of this process is important.' The word give works best when you study it in full context rather than in isolation.
What is the CEFR level for give?
The word give is at A1 — Beginner on the CEFR scale. This means it is part of the core beginner vocabulary every learner should know first.
What are synonyms for give?
Common synonyms include words that share a similar meaning to give. When choosing a synonym, always consider the context — slight differences in meaning or register can change how natural a sentence sounds. Practise with LexFizz Flash Cards to learn synonyms efficiently.
What is the opposite of give?
The opposite (antonym) of give helps you understand the full range of meaning. Knowing antonyms alongside the main word doubles your vocabulary in one go. For example, learning 'fast' and 'slow' together makes both words stick better in memory.
Is give formal or informal?
The word give is versatile and works in both formal and informal contexts at A1 — Beginner level. In academic writing, you may find more specific synonyms used in its place, but give itself is entirely appropriate in essays, reports, emails, and conversations.
How do I remember the meaning of give?
Try associating give with a vivid image or a memorable sentence. Writing three example sentences with give and saying them aloud is one of the most effective memorisation strategies. LexFizz's Flash Cards exercise uses spaced repetition to help vocabulary like give transfer to long-term memory.
What are common collocations with give?
Collocations are words that naturally appear together. Learning give as part of a collocation phrase rather than in isolation makes it much easier to use correctly. Study real-world examples in articles, stories, and exercises to build a natural sense for which words combine with give.
How can I practise using give on LexFizz?
LexFizz's Flash Cards, Complete the Sentence, and Quiz exercises all feature high-frequency vocabulary including give. Try the Hangman exercise for a fun way to revise spelling, and use the Word Search to recognise give quickly in context. Regular short practice sessions are more effective than occasional long ones.