gift
A1neutral
Definition
Meaning
something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favour or honour, or make someone happy
A natural ability or talent; in legal/commercial contexts, something transferred without consideration.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can denote both tangible items and intangible qualities (e.g., talent). In some contexts (e.g., German gift=poison), false friends exist.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'gift' as a verb is less common and often seen as formal or corporate; 'give' is preferred. In US English, 'gift' as a verb (e.g., 'They gifted him a watch') is more widely accepted in everyday usage.
Connotations
Both varieties share core meaning, but British usage may retain a slightly more formal nuance for the noun.
Frequency
Noun form is extremely high frequency in both. Verb form frequency is notably higher in American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
gift somebody somethinggift something to somebodyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the gift of the gab”
- “look a gift horse in the mouth”
- “gift that keeps on giving”
- “God's gift to...”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to corporate gifts, gift cards, or non-monetary compensation. 'The company gifted shares to its founders.'
Academic
Often used in social sciences to discuss gift economies (Mauss) or in literature for metaphorical talent. 'The study analysed the ritual of gift exchange.'
Everyday
Most common use for birthdays, holidays, celebrations. 'I need to buy a gift for my sister.'
Technical
In law: 'inter vivos gift'; in theology: 'spiritual gifts'; in retail: 'gift registry'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company will gift a bonus to all employees.
- She was gifted a place in the team due to her connections.
American English
- They gifted us a new grill for our wedding.
- The alumni gifted the university a new science building.
adjective
British English
- She is a gifted mathematician.
- He has a gifted intellect.
American English
- She's a gifted public speaker.
- They are a gifted group of musicians.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I got a nice gift for my birthday.
- She gave him a gift.
- What is your favourite gift?
- We bought a gift voucher for our parents' anniversary.
- It's hard to choose the perfect gift sometimes.
- Receiving an unexpected gift is always lovely.
- His ability to calm any situation is a true gift.
- The museum was gifted a rare collection of paintings.
- She questioned the ethics of accepting such an expensive gift.
- The bequest was structured as an outright gift to the charity.
- He possesses the rare gift of making complex topics accessible.
- Cultural anthropologists study the role of gift exchange in forging alliances.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GIFT as something you GIVE for FREE (GIFT shares letters with GIVE and FREE).
Conceptual Metaphor
TALENT/ABILITY IS A GIFT ('She has a gift for languages'); OPPORTUNITY IS A GIFT ('The job offer was a gift').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'gift' in German (poison).
- Russian 'дар' and 'подарок' both map to 'gift', but 'дар' often implies innate talent, while 'подарок' is a physical present.
- Do not directly translate 'make a gift' from 'делать подарок'; use 'give a gift'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'gift' as a verb in very formal UK contexts where 'give' or 'present' is better.
- Incorrect: 'He gifted to me a book.' Correct: 'He gifted me a book.' or 'He gifted a book to me.'
- Confusing 'gifted' (talented) with 'gifted' (past tense of the verb).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb form 'gift' most naturally used in British English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are very common. 'Present' might be slightly more frequent in UK everyday speech for physical items, while 'gift' is universally common and used in more formal/commercial contexts.
Yes, especially in American English. In British English, it is used but is sometimes considered formal or jargonistic. 'Give' is often the safer choice in the UK.
'Gifted' as an adjective means 'talented'. 'Gifted' as a verb is the past tense of 'to gift', meaning 'gave as a gift'. Context clarifies: 'She was gifted a piano' (verb) vs. 'She is a gifted pianist' (adjective).
It is an idiom meaning the ability to speak easily, confidently, and persuasively.
Collections
Part of a collection
Shopping
A2 · 50 words · Vocabulary for buying and selling goods.