giving

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡɪvɪŋ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪvɪŋ

Verb

giving

1. present participle and gerund of give
   • 1981, fa.human-nets, 6 May 1981 0359-EDT, Gary Feldman at CMU-10A

     These bright surfaces are sprayed with a fine spray of ink, thus giving them an even surface.

Adjective

giving (comparative more giving, superlative most giving)

1. Having the tendency to give; generous.
   • 1984, Jeff Sargent, net.flame, 26 Mar 1984

     To become like Christ involves everything else: becoming a loving and giving person, having confidence enabling you to be vulnerable (psychologically and physically; Jesus did both), having the wisdom to see people's needs and the desire to meet them.

2. (slang) Awesome, outstanding; exceeding expectations. [from around 2019]

   Your outfit is giving!

   • 2022 August 29, Stixx M, “Latto's French Chrome Manicure Was "Giving" at the MTV VMAs”, in Hypebae‎^[1]:

     There were lots of statement nail moments at the 2022 MTV VMA‘s, and Latto‘s metallic french tip manicure was one of them. [see title]

   • 2022 October 30, Roisin Chapman, “I’m mid-size – my Shein haul included multiple dupes of Kim Kardashian’s Skims with prices from $13”, in The Sun‎^[2]:

     Next, the TikTok user showed her followers the $15 solid scoop neck tank dress in mocha brown. / "This one is giving. I love this, this is so cute. I think my body shape looks really cute in it," she told her followers.

   • 2023 January 26, Roisin Chapman, “Trolls tell me my work skirts are ‘too short’ for the office – but my boss doesn’t care, so I don’t know why they do”, in The Irish Sun‎^[3]:

     The fashion influencer also posts content showing off her corporate looks, demonstrating how she can be professional and stylish. / In the comments, people seemed less concerned with her outfit than her hair styling. / "Okay but the fringe is giving," wrote one person.

Translations

generous

• Arabic: مِعْطَاء (miʕṭāʔ)
• Finnish: antelias (fi), avokätinen (fi)
• French: généreux (fr)
• Greek:

  Ancient: δοτικός (dotikós)

• Indonesian: pemberi (id)
• Spanish: dadivoso (es)

Noun

giving (plural givings)

1. The act of bestowing as a gift; a conferring or imparting.
2. A gift; a benefaction.
   • 1717, Alexander Pope, The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volumes (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], →OCLC:

     his gains were sure, His givings rare

3. The act of softening, breaking, or yielding.
   • 1710 December 4 (Gregorian calendar), Isaac Bickerstaff [et al., pseudonyms; Joseph Addison], “Thursday, November 23, 1710”, in The Tatler, number 254; republished in [Richard Steele], editor, The Tatler, […], London stereotype edition, volume III, London: I. Walker and Co.;  […], 1822, →OCLC:

     [U]pon the first giving of the weather.

     The spelling has been modernized.

Derived terms

• gaingiving
• gift-giving
• gift that keeps on giving
• giving birth
• givingness
• Indian giving
• life-giving
• misgiving
• non-giving
• outgiving
• prize-giving
• self-giving
• ungiving