- past participle of give.
given
Americanverb
adjective
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stated, fixed, or specified.
at a given time.
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addicted or disposed (often followed byto ).
given to making snide remarks.
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bestowed as a gift; conferred.
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assigned as a basis of calculation, reasoning, etc..
Given A and B, C follows.
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Mathematics. known or independently determined.
a given magnitude.
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(on official documents) executed and delivered as of the date shown.
noun
verb
adjective
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tending (to); inclined or addicted (to)
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specific or previously stated
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assumed as a premise
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maths known or determined independently
a given volume
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(on official documents) issued or executed, as on a stated date
noun
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an assumed fact
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philosophy the supposed raw data of experience See also sense datum
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of given
First recorded in 1350–1400, for the adjective
Explanation
A given is some detail or fact that is known to be true. Your mother might say, "It's a given that I'll always love you, no matter how annoying you are." Something's a given if it's an established situation that you're sure of. It's a given that a first class airplane ticket will cost a lot more than a seat in coach, and it's also a given that the earth orbits the sun. It can also be an adjective: "After considering the given facts, mark an answer on the multiple-choice test." Given comes from the verb give, which has an Old English root of giefan, "to bestow, allot, or commit."
Vocabulary lists containing given
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have combined for five of England’s six goals while Jordan Pickford hasn’t given up a goal since the opening half of the first game.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
He was given his first start of the World Cup against Panama, lasting 63 minute while continuing to nurse an Achilles tendon problem.
From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026
It’s about gratitude and respect for you and your husband, especially given that you do so much for your daughter, including minding her own daughter.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 1, 2026
Ryan isn’t completely sure she is going to get coverage though, given she has lost so much weight already.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026
General Moore reads a citation, then presents Joey with the Medal of Freedom with Silver Palm, a commendation given by President Harry S. Truman to honor civilians who demonstrated incredible courage during the war.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
