Synonyms of give

give

verb

ˈgiv 

1

as in to donate

to make a present of

thanked all the tutors who generously gave their time to help students after school

Synonyms & Similar Words

• donate
• volunteer
• provide
• present
• contribute
• bestow
• offer
• give of
• give away
• furnish
• render
• award
• issue
• afford
• confer
• pay
• throw in
• benefit
• assist
• aid
• impart
• dispense
• endow
• kick in
• help
• sacrifice
• pitch in
• chip in
• comp
• proffer
• lavish
• regale
• extend
• dole out
• hand out
• administer
• endue
• mete (out)
• tender
• dish out
• fork (over, out, or up)
• put up
• pungle (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keep
• hold
• retain
• withhold
• save
• preserve
• lend
• sell
• advance
• pocket
• loan

2

as in to leave

to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another

gave my camera to my father to hold while I went swimming

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leave
• hand
• entrust
• transfer
• deliver
• delegate
• pass
• relinquish
• commend
• recommend
• transmit
• lend
• grant
• trust
• confide
• commit
• confer
• submit
• loan
• turn over
• bequeath
• consign
• assign
• hand over
• give over
• will
• distribute
• vest
• furnish
• repose
• dispense
• divide
• deal (out)
• supply
• disperse
• yield
• surrender
• turn in
• release
• hand in
• recommit
• advance
• hand down
• hand on
• redeliver
• retransmit
• retransfer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keep
• hold
• retain
• withhold
• receive
• possess
• take
• accept
• own
• reserve
• detain
• hold back
• occupy
• take over
• take in

3

as in to offer

to bring before the public in performance or exhibition

the author will give a reading from her latest work at 7:00 p.m.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• offer
• present
• carry
• stage
• perform
• show
• mount
• display
• exhibit
• come out with
• render
• expose
• unveil
• represent
• parade
• enact
• play
• portray
• show off
• preview
• depict
• extend
• act
• dramatize
• proffer
• impersonate
• tender

4

as in to collapse

to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure

they loaded the shopping cart with so much food it gave under all the weight

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collapse
• go
• yield
• tumble
• give way
• crumple
• buckle
• melt
• die
• go out
• shatter
• founder
• break
• crumble
• cave (in)
• fail
• implode
• burst
• flatten
• snap
• give out
• pop
• crash
• smash
• split
• crack
• deflate
• stall
• break down
• melt down
• splinter
• conk (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• swell
• inflate

5

as in to pay

to hand over or use up in payment

I wouldn't give a nickel for such a run-down car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pay
• spend
• expend
• disburse
• lay out
• drop
• shell out
• outlay
• lavish
• fork (over, out, or up)
• waste
• blow
• rain
• throw away
• dissipate
• squander
• run through
• fritter (away)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• save
• make
• acquire
• gain
• earn
• win
• realize
• secure
• procure
• hoard
• lay up
• cache
• garner

6

as in to express

to make known (as an idea, emotion, or opinion)

she gave her opinion on the matter very firmly and unmistakably

Synonyms & Similar Words

• express
• voice
• look
• state
• announce
• write
• raise
• expound
• say
• air
• ventilate
• sound
• convey
• put forth
• vent
• describe
• offer
• proclaim
• give air to
• publish
• declare
• disseminate
• advertise
• submit
• circulate
• broadcast
• enunciate
• write up
• communicate
• speak out
• speak up
• enounce
• put over
• sound off
• put across
• chime in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• suppress
• restrict
• restrain
• stifle
• censor

7

as in to devote

to occupy (oneself) diligently or with close attention

totally gave himself to his studies in the hopes of winning a scholarship for next year

Synonyms & Similar Words

• devote
• apply
• address
• commit
• get cracking
• buckle
• bend
• spend
• work
• get with it
• exert
• set (to)
• reapply
• turn one's hand
• get one's act together
• settle (down)
• readdress
• involve
• engage
• busy
• trouble
• wear out
• concern
• tax
• carry on
• exhaust
• stress
• put out
• knuckle down
• plunge (in)
• plow
• hump
• pitch in
• hustle
• grind
• peg (away)
• plug (away)
• plod
• strain

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• play
• idle
• fool around
• dawdle
• trifle
• fiddle (around)
• putter (around)
• mess around
• monkey (around)
• potter (around)
• dillydally
• dally

8

as in to yield

to produce as revenue

a company that consistently gives $30 million in profits to the owner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• yield
• pay
• provide
• return
• bear
• furnish
• afford
• supply
• bring in
• net
• pay off

9

as in to provide

to put (something) into the possession of someone for use or consumption

gave him my e-mail address

Synonyms & Similar Words

• provide
• supply
• hand
• furnish
• deliver
• feed
• distribute
• dispense
• hand over
• portion
• allocate
• deal (out)
• administer
• assign
• apportion
• ply (with)
• transfer
• dole out
• prorate
• deed
• mete (out)
• cede
• parcel (out)
• make over

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keep (back)
• hold (back)
• retain
• maintain
• save
• withhold
• preserve
• reserve
• conserve
• keep up

10

as in to run by

to put before another for acceptance or consideration

she gave the committee her grant proposal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• offer
• run by
• extend
• tender
• submit
• proffer
• propose
• trot out
• pose
• hold out
• volunteer
• give in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• receive
• take
• accept
• confirm
• authorize
• approve
• warrant
• deny
• clear
• ratify
• reject
• sanction
• finalize
• refuse
• formalize
• OK
• negative
• disallow
• decline
• veto
• disapprove
• turn down
• withdraw
• rebut
• accredit
• ignore
• retract
• spurn
• approbate
• disregard
• homologate
• overlook
• neglect
• rebuff

11

as in to transmit

to cause (something) to pass from one to another

she gave her cold to me, and now I'm so sick that I can barely get out of bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• transmit
• spread
• convey
• impart
• communicate
• disseminate
• propagate
• deliver
• transfer
• conduct
• transfuse
• diffuse
• surrender
• turn over
• broadcast
• hand over
• infect
• contaminate
• poison
• hand down
• hand on

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• catch
• contract
• come down (with)

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb give contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of give are afford, bestow, confer, donate, and present. While all these words mean "to convey to another as a possession," give, the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.

give alms

gave her a ride on a pony

give my love to your mother

When is it sensible to use afford instead of give?

Although the words afford and give have much in common, afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver.

the trees afford shade

a development that affords us some hope

When can bestow be used instead of give?

While the synonyms bestow and give are close in meaning, bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

bestow unwanted advice

When is confer a more appropriate choice than give?

While in some cases nearly identical to give, confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

confer an honorary degree

In what contexts can donate take the place of give?

The synonyms donate and give are sometimes interchangeable, but donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

donate a piano to the orphanage

When might present be a better fit than give?

The meanings of present and give largely overlap; however, present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

present an award

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of give

Most importantly, those rights allow the Hornets to go over the salary cap to retain White’s services, giving them an advantage over other potential suitors. —Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026

In 2022, the state of Arizona gave Frank Atwood the option to be executed using Zyklon B, the hydrogen-cyanide gas that the Nazis used to murder more than a million people during the Holocaust. —Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026

No substitution or compensation will be given for any portion of the prize that is not used. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026

Lurie’s steadfast backing of Hurts is notable given its timing. —Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing give

• give (someone) the third degree
• give a hang
• give a hard time
• give air to
• give away
• give birth to
• give ground
• give in
• give notice
• give of
• give one the creeps
• give one the gate
• give one's word
• give out
• give over
• give rise to
• give the lie to
• give the third degree to
• give up
• give up (to)
• give up the ghost
• give way