give back
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/ɡɪv ˈbæk/
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To return something to its owner.
Examples
Will you give back some of your time by volunteering?
She gave back the library book as soon as she finished reading it.
If we could give back more, we would fund more projects.
She decided to give back to the shelter by donating clothes.
He has given back a lot of money to charity over the years.
Similar words
contribute
donate
offer
reimburse
provide
send back
refund
hand back
gift
return
Meanings
Examples
I will give back the keys you left with me.
She gave back the library book as soon as she finished reading it.
Can you give back my pen after you’re done?
Please give back the change you owe me.
They have given back the equipment after the project ended.
He was giving back the tools when I arrived.
We might give back the deposit if the lease ends early.
Similar words
return
hand back
send back
reimburse
refund
Examples
She decided to give back to the shelter by donating clothes.
They gave back a portion of their profits to support local schools.
Will you give back some of your time by volunteering?
Please give back what you can to help the community.
He has given back a lot of money to charity over the years.
We are giving back through a new mentorship program.
If we could give back more, we would fund more projects.
Similar words
donate
contribute
gift
offer
provide
Etymology
A fixed expression built from ordinary words whose combination has become conventional.
FAQ
What does give back mean?
To return something to its owner.
How is give back used in everyday language?
It means to give an item back to the person who originally gave it to you.
What does give back mean in a charitable context?
It means to give money, time, or other resources to a person or organization as a contribution.
What are synonyms for give back when it means to return something?
return, hand back, send back, reimburse, refund.
What are synonyms for give back when it means to donate?
donate, contribute, gift, offer, provide.
Can give back be used to describe returning money?
Yes, it can mean to reimburse or refund money.
Is give back the same as hand back?
In the sense of returning an item, hand back is a synonym of give back.
Does give back imply a contribution?
When used in a charitable sense, it implies giving a contribution.
How can I say give back in a more formal way?
Use return for the everyday sense and donate for the charitable sense.
Can give back be used as a noun?
No, it functions as a verb phrase, not as a noun.
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