given: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal to neutral
Quick answer
What does “given” mean?
past participle of 'give', meaning something already provided, known, or assumed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
past participle of 'give', meaning something already provided, known, or assumed.
Used as a preposition to mean 'taking into account'; as an adjective to describe something specific or previously stated; as a noun to mean 'an established fact or condition'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning. Usage frequency in formal writing is similar.
Connotations
Slight preference for 'given that' in British academic writing; 'given' as a standalone adjective is equally common in both varieties.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, particularly in written and academic English.
Grammar
How to Use “given” in a Sentence
given + noun phrase (Given the time...)given + that-clause (Given that he was late...)be given + to + noun/gerund (He is given to fits of anger)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “given” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She was given a promotion last quarter.
- They haven't given us their decision yet.
American English
- He was given a ticket for speeding.
- The committee has given its approval.
adjective
British English
- The work must be completed at any given moment.
- We will meet at a given point on the map.
American English
- For any given problem, there are multiple solutions.
- The task must be done by a given date.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports: 'Given the market volatility, we recommend caution.'
Academic
Common in hypotheses: 'Given these assumptions, the model predicts...'
Everyday
Casual reasoning: 'Given the traffic, we'll be late.'
Technical
In mathematics/logic: 'Given x=3, solve for y.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “given”
- *In given case (use 'in a given case' or 'in the given case').
- Using 'given to' incorrectly (e.g., *He is given to help – should be 'He is given to helping').
- Confusing 'given' with 'giving' in present contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It ranges from neutral to formal. 'He was given a book' is neutral. 'Given the foregoing discussion...' is formal/academic.
Yes, very commonly. 'Given the time, we should leave.' This is a prepositional phrase setting the context.
As conjunctions, they are similar ('Given/Provided that you study, you will pass'). 'Given' is more common for stating accepted facts; 'provided' emphasises a condition for something else to happen.
It is an adjective meaning 'bestowed' or 'assigned'. It modifies the noun 'name'.
past participle of 'give', meaning something already provided, known, or assumed.
Given: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡɪv.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡɪv.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a given”
- “given to understand”
- “given the runaround”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GIFT already GIVEN. It's in the past, it's known, it's a fact you now have.
Conceptual Metaphor
BACKGROUND IS A FOUNDATION (Given these facts, we build our argument.)
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'a given', what does 'given' function as?