gift
gift
Pronunciation
gift: /ɡɪft/ - /ɡ/, /ɪ/, /f/, /t/
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: gift
Plural Noun: gifts
Verb (base form): gift
Verb (third-person singular present): gifts
Verb (present participle): gifting
Verb (past tense/past participle): gifted
Adjective: gifted
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A present or something given voluntarily to someone without expectation of payment or return.
Synonyms: present, offering, donation, boon, contribution
Antonyms: debt, payment, loan, bill, charge
A natural ability or talent.
Synonyms: talent, aptitude, flair, knack, forte, endowment
Antonyms: inability, weakness, deficiency, failing, limitation
Verb
To present someone with something voluntarily and without expectation of payment or return.
Synonyms: present, bestow, grant, donate, confer, award
Antonyms: take, receive, seize, acquire, appropriate
Adjective
Possessing exceptional natural ability or talent. (Often used as a past participle "gifted")
Synonyms: talented, able, capable, skilled, proficient, brilliant
Antonyms: untalented, unskillful, incapable, unaccomplished, ordinary
Examples of Use
Books:
"The greatest gift of all, as it turns out, is to be allowed to be yourself, unapologetically." (Brené Brown, Daring Greatly, 2012) - Here, "gift" refers to a valuable and desirable outcome or quality.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17, The Holy Bible, New International Version) - This uses "gift" in a spiritual context, referring to blessings.
Newspapers:
"The city council approved a gift of land to the local historical society for the construction of a new museum." (Reporter's Notebook, The Daily Herald, March 15, 2024) - Here, "gift" is used as a noun meaning a donation.
"Local philanthropists announced a substantial financial gift to the university's research program, aiming to accelerate breakthroughs in renewable energy." (The New York Times, October 27, 2023) - This example uses "gift" as a noun for a monetary contribution.
Online Publications:
"Finding the perfect gift for Dad can be a challenge, but our guide features unique ideas for every type of father." (BuzzFeed, June 10, 2024, www.buzzfeed.com) - This is a common use of "gift" as a noun for a present.
"While some celebrities are born with a natural gift for performance, many hone their skills through years of dedication and practice." (Vulture, May 5, 2023, www.vulture.com) - Here, "gift" refers to innate talent.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Life is a gift, never forget to enjoy every moment of it." (From the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, 2006) - This uses "gift" metaphorically to convey the preciousness of life.
Television Series: "She has a real gift for understanding people's motivations, which makes her an excellent detective." (From the TV series Sherlock, Season 3, Episode 2, 2014) - This uses "gift" to describe a natural aptitude.
Music (Song Title/Lyrics): "Your Love Is My Gift" (Song by The Temptations) - This uses "gift" as a noun, representing something freely given and cherished.
Video Games: "Completing this challenging quest will unlock a legendary gift that will aid you in your future adventures." (In-game text, Elden Ring, 2022) - Here, "gift" refers to an in-game reward or item.
Podcasts: "Our guest today shares how they discovered their gift for storytelling and built a successful career around it." (The Creative Grind Podcast, Episode 78, April 18, 2024) - This uses "gift" to describe a natural ability.
General Public Discourse:
"My grandma always said that the gift of friendship is one of the most valuable things you can possess." (Casual conversation) - Here, "gift" is used metaphorically for something beneficial and freely given.
"Thank you so much for the lovely housewarming gift!" (Spoken during a social gathering) - This is a common everyday use of "gift" as a present.
"He's truly gifted in mathematics; he can solve complex problems in his head." (Discussion among colleagues) - This uses the adjective form "gifted" to describe someone with exceptional talent.
"Receiving that scholarship was truly a gift that opened so many doors for me." (Personal anecdote) - This uses "gift" to describe a beneficial and unexpected opportunity.
10 Famous Quotes Using Gift
"The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract positive thinking." (Albert Einstein)
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17, The Bible)
"Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more." (Tony Robbins)
"The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it." (Hubert H. Humphrey)
"The gift of love is the gift of a lifetime, for when we love, we are truly alive." (John F. Kennedy)
"The best gift you can give yourself is to allow yourself to be human." (Brene Brown)
"We are all born with a divine gift. The problem is, we often bury it." (Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist)
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) - Metaphorical use of "gift" as a unique quality.
"The gift of learning to fly, or of learning to dance, or of learning to play an instrument, these are all ways of experiencing a freedom that is deeply human." (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow)
"The gift of a teacher is to make students see something in themselves they didn't know was there." (Ken Robinson)
Etymology
The word "gift" has a deep history that goes back to the ancient Germanic languages.
Think of it like a family tree for words. "Gift" is related to the verb "give," and they both come from a very old ancestor word in what's called Proto-Germanic, which is the language that eventually led to English, German, Dutch, and the Scandinavian languages. This ancient root word was something like "*geftiz", meaning "the act of giving" or "that which is given."
The first known uses of "gift" in English can be found in the Middle English period (around 1150-1500 AD). Interestingly, its earliest meaning wasn't exactly the "present" we think of today. In Old English, the word "gift" was mainly used to mean "payment for a wife" or "dowry" (the property or money a bride brings to her marriage), and in its plural form, "gifta," it could mean "wedding" or "nuptials."
So, imagine a time when a "gift" was specifically something given in connection with a marriage. Over time, the meaning broadened. By around 1200 AD, it started to take on the more general sense of "an object freely given to another person." Then, around 1300 AD, the meaning of "a natural talent or ability" also appeared, perhaps coming from the idea of an "inspiration" or "power miraculously bestowed."
In some other Germanic languages, like German and Dutch, the word "Gift" actually means "poison"! This is a fascinating twist, and it's thought to have developed possibly as a euphemism (a milder word for something unpleasant) or influenced by a Greek word meaning "a portion prescribed," like a dose of medicine. However, in English, "gift" has thankfully kept its positive meaning!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Gift
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "gift":
A gift from God/Heaven: Something that feels like a divine blessing or unexpected good fortune.
The gift of gab: The ability to speak easily and persuasively; eloquence.
To look a gift horse in the mouth: To be critical of a present or opportunity that has been given to you, rather than being grateful. (This is the most common idiom.)
A gift that keeps on giving: Something that continues to provide benefits or enjoyment over a long period.
The gift of life: The preciousness of being alive.
To have a gift for (something): To possess a natural talent or aptitude for a particular skill or activity.
To be gifted with (something): To inherently possess a particular quality or talent.
The gift of foresight: The ability to predict what will happen in the future.
A parting gift: A present given to someone who is leaving.
To get a gift for (someone): To purchase or prepare a present for someone.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of gift from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
