Give vs. Tell

(ditransitive) To move, shift, provide something abstract or concrete to someone or something or somewhere.

To transfer one's possession or holding of (something) to (someone).

Example: ‘I gave him my coat.’; ‘I gave my coat to the beggar.’; ‘When they asked, I gave my coat.’;

To make a present or gift of.

Example: ‘I'm going to give my wife a necklace for her birthday.’; ‘She gave a pair of shoes to her husband for their anniversary.’; ‘He gives of his energies to the organization.’;

To pledge.

Example: ‘I gave him my word that I'd protect his children.’;

To provide (something) to (someone), to allow or afford.

Example: ‘I gave them permission to miss tomorrow's class.’; ‘Please give me some more time.’;

To cause (a sensation or feeling) to exist in.

Example: ‘It gives me a lot of pleasure to be here tonight.’; ‘The fence gave me an electric shock.’; ‘My mother-in-law gives me nothing but grief.’;

To carry out (a physical interaction) with (something).

Example: ‘I want to give you a kiss.’; ‘She gave him a hug.’; ‘I'd like to give the tire a kick.’; ‘I gave the boy a push on the swing.’; ‘She gave me a wink afterwards, so I knew she was joking.’;

To pass (something) into (someone's) hand or the like.

Example: ‘Give me your hand.’; ‘On entering the house, he gave his coat to the doorman.’;

To cause (a disease or condition) in, or to transmit (a disease or condition) to.

Example: ‘My boyfriend gave me chlamydia.’; ‘He was convinced that it was his alcoholism that gave him cancer.’;

(ditransitive) To estimate or predict (a duration or probability) for (something).

Example: ‘I give it ten minutes before he gives up.’; ‘I give it a 95% chance of success.’; ‘I'll give their marriage six months.’;

(intransitive) To yield slightly when a force is applied.

(intransitive) To collapse under pressure or force.

Example: ‘One pillar gave, then more, and suddenly the whole floor pancaked onto the floor below.’;

(transitive) To provide, as, a service or a broadcast.

Example: ‘They're giving my favorite show!’;

(intransitive) To lead (onto or into).

Example: ‘The master bedroom gives onto a spacious balcony.’;

To provide a view of.

Example: ‘His window gave the park.’;

To exhibit as a product or result; to produce; to yield.

Example: ‘The number of men, divided by the number of ships, gives four hundred to each ship.’;

To cause; to make; used with the infinitive.

To cause (someone) to have; produce in (someone); effectuate.

To allow or admit by way of supposition; to concede.

Example: ‘He can be bad-tempered, I'll give you that, but he's a hard worker.’;

To attribute; to assign; to adjudge.

To communicate or announce (advice, tidings, etc.); to pronounce or utter (an opinion, a judgment, a shout, etc.).

(dated) To grant power or permission to; to allow.

(reflexive) To devote or apply (oneself).

Example: ‘The soldiers give themselves to plunder.’; ‘That boy is given to fits of bad temper.’;

(obsolete) To become soft or moist.

(obsolete) To shed tears; to weep.

(obsolete) To have a misgiving.

To be going on, to be occurring

Example: ‘What gives?’;

(uncountable) The amount of bending that something undergoes when a force is applied to it; a tendency to yield under pressure; resilence.

Example: ‘This chair doesn't have much give.’; ‘There is no give in his dogmatic religious beliefs.’;

To bestow without receiving a return; to confer without compensation; to impart, as a possession; to grant, as authority or permission; to yield up or allow.

Example: ‘For generous lords had rather give than pay.’;

To yield possesion of; to deliver over, as property, in exchange for something; to pay; as, we give the value of what we buy.

Example: ‘What shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?’;

To yield; to furnish; to produce; to emit; as, flint and steel give sparks.

To communicate or announce, as advice, tidings, etc.; to pronounce; to render or utter, as an opinion, a judgment, a sentence, a shout, etc.

To grant power or license to; to permit; to allow; to license; to commission.

Example: ‘It is given me once again to behold my friend.’; ‘Then give thy friend to shed the sacred wine.’;

To exhibit as a product or result; to produce; to show; as, the number of men, divided by the number of ships, gives four hundred to each ship.

To devote; to apply; used reflexively, to devote or apply one's self; as, the soldiers give themselves to plunder; also in this sense used very frequently in the past participle; as, the people are given to luxury and pleasure; the youth is given to study.

To set forth as a known quantity or a known relation, or as a premise from which to reason; - used principally in the passive form given.

To allow or admit by way of supposition.

Example: ‘I give not heaven for lost.’;

To attribute; to assign; to adjudge.

Example: ‘I don't wonder at people's giving him to me as a lover.’;

To excite or cause to exist, as a sensation; as, to give offense; to give pleasure or pain.

To pledge; as, to give one's word.

To cause; to make; - with the infinitive; as, to give one to understand, to know, etc.

Example: ‘But there the duke was given to understandThat in a gondola were seen togetherLorenzo and his amorous Jessica.’;

To afford a view of; as, his window gave the park.

Example: ‘Whatsoever we employ in charitable uses during our lives, is given away from ourselves.’; ‘I fear our ears have given us the bag.’; ‘One that gives out himself Prince Florizel.’; ‘Give out you are of Epidamnum.’; ‘The Babylonians had given themselves over to all manner of vice.’; ‘He has . . . given upFor certain drops of salt, your city Rome.’; ‘I'll not state themBy giving up their characters.’;

To give a gift or gifts.

To yield to force or pressure; to relax; to become less rigid; as, the earth gives under the feet.

To become soft or moist.

To move; to recede.

Example: ‘Now back he gives, then rushes on amain.’;

To shed tears; to weep.

Example: ‘Whose eyes do never giveBut through lust and laughter.’;

To have a misgiving.

Example: ‘My mind gives ye're reservedTo rob poor market women.’;

To open; to lead.

Example: ‘This, yielding, gave into a grassy walk.’; ‘They gave back and came no farther.’; ‘The Scots battalion was enforced to give in.’; ‘This consideration may induce a translator to give in to those general phrases.’; ‘Rooms which gave upon a pillared porch.’; ‘The gloomy staircase on which the grating gave.’; ‘It would be well for all authors, if they knew when to give over, and to desist from any further pursuits after fame.’;

the elasticity of something that can be stretched and returns to its original length

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense;

Example: ‘She gave him a black eye’; ‘The draft gave me a cold’;

be the cause or source of;

Example: ‘He gave me a lot of trouble’; ‘Our meeting afforded much interesting information’;

transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody;

Example: ‘I gave her my money’; ‘can you give me lessons?’; ‘She gave the children lots of love and tender loving care’;

convey or reveal information;

Example: ‘Give one's name’;

convey, as of a compliment, regards, attention, etc.; bestow;

Example: ‘Don't pay him any mind’; ‘give the orders’; ‘Give him my best regards’; ‘pay attention’;

organize or be responsible for;

Example: ‘hold a reception’; ‘have, throw, or make a party’; ‘give a course’;

convey or communicate; of a smile, a look, a physical gesture;

Example: ‘Throw a glance’; ‘She gave me a dirty look’;

give as a present; make a gift of;

Example: ‘What will you give her for her birthday?’;

bring about;

Example: ‘His two singles gave the team the victory’;

dedicate;

Example: ‘give thought to’; ‘give priority to’; ‘pay attention to’;

give or supply;

Example: ‘The cow brings in 5 liters of milk’; ‘This year's crop yielded 1,000 bushels of corn’; ‘The estate renders some revenue for the family’;

tell or deposit (information) knowledge;

Example: ‘give a secret to the Russians’; ‘leave your name and address here’;

bring about;

Example: ‘The trompe l'oeil-illusion establishes depth’;

leave with; give temporarily;

Example: ‘Can I give you my keys while I go in the pool?’; ‘Can I give you the children for the weekend?’;

emit or utter;

Example: ‘Give a gulp’; ‘give a yelp’;

endure the loss of;

Example: ‘He gave his life for his children’; ‘I gave two sons to the war’;

place into the hands or custody of;

Example: ‘hand me the spoon, please’; ‘Turn the files over to me, please’; ‘He turned over the prisoner to his lawyers’;

give entirely to a specific person, activity, or cause;

Example: ‘She committed herself to the work of God’; ‘give one's talents to a good cause’; ‘consecrate your life to the church’;

give (as medicine);

Example: ‘I gave him the drug’;

give or convey physically;

Example: ‘She gave him First Aid’; ‘I gave him a punch in the nose’;

bestow;

Example: ‘give hommage’; ‘render thanks’;

bestow, especially officially;

Example: ‘grant a degree’; ‘give a divorce’; ‘This bill grants us new rights’;

move in order to make room for someone for something;

Example: ‘The park gave way to a supermarket’; ‘`Move over,' he told the crowd’;

give food to;

Example: ‘Feed the starving children in India’; ‘don't give the child this tough meat’;

contribute to some cause;

Example: ‘I gave at the office’;

break down, literally or metaphorically;

Example: ‘The wall collapsed’; ‘The business collapsed’; ‘The dam broke’; ‘The roof collapsed’; ‘The wall gave in’; ‘The roof finally gave under the weight of the ice’;

estimate the duration or outcome of something;

Example: ‘He gave the patient three months to live’; ‘I gave him a very good chance at success’;

execute and deliver;

Example: ‘Give bond’;

deliver in exchange or recompense;

Example: ‘I'll give you three books for four CDs’;

afford access to;

Example: ‘the door opens to the patio’; ‘The French doors give onto a terrace’;

present to view;

Example: ‘He gave the sign to start’;

perform for an audience;

Example: ‘Pollini is giving another concert in New York’;

be flexible under stress of physical force;

Example: ‘This material doesn't give’;

propose;

Example: ‘He gave the first of many toasts at the birthday party’;

legal use: accord by verdict;

Example: ‘give a decision for the plaintiff’;

manifest or show;

Example: ‘This student gives promise of real creativity’; ‘The office gave evidence of tampering’;

offer in good faith;

Example: ‘He gave her his word’;

submit for consideration, judgment, or use;

Example: ‘give one's opinion’; ‘give an excuse’;

guide or direct, as by behavior of persuasion;

Example: ‘You gave me to think that you agreed with me’;

allow to have or take;

Example: ‘I give you two minutes to respond’;

inflict as a punishment;

Example: ‘She gave the boy a good spanking’; ‘The judge gave me 10 years’;

occur;

Example: ‘what gives?’;

consent to engage in sexual intercourse with a man;

Example: ‘She gave herself to many men’;

proffer (a body part);

Example: ‘She gave her hand to her little sister’;

freely transfer the possession of (something) to (someone)

Example: ‘he gave the papers back’; ‘the cheque given to the jeweller proved worthless’; ‘she gave him presents and clothes’;

administer (medicine)

Example: ‘she was given antibiotics’;

hand over (an amount) in payment; pay

Example: ‘how much did you give for that?’;

used hyperbolically to express how greatly one wants to have or do something

Example: ‘I'd give anything for a cup of tea’;

commit or entrust

Example: ‘a baby given into their care by the accident of her birth’;

freely set aside or devote for a purpose

Example: ‘committees who give so generously of their time and effort’; ‘all who have given thought to the matter agree’;

(of a man) sanction the marriage of (his daughter) to someone

Example: ‘he gave her in marriage to a noble’;

(of a woman) consent to have sexual intercourse with (a man)

Example: ‘she gave herself to the king in order to obtain the pardon of her father’;

used to present a speaker or entertainer or when making a toast

Example: ‘for your entertainment this evening I give you … Mister Albert DeNero!’;

cause or allow (someone or something) to have or experience (something); provide with

Example: ‘you gave me such a fright’; ‘this leaflet gives our opening times’;

provide (love or other emotional support) to

Example: ‘his parents gave him the encouragement he needed to succeed’;

sentence (someone) to (a specified penalty)

Example: ‘for the first offence I was given a fine’;

allot (a score) to

Example: ‘I gave it five out of ten’;

allow (someone) to have (a specified amount of time) for an activity or undertaking

Example: ‘give me a second to bring the car around’; ‘I'll give you until tomorrow morning’;

pass on (an illness or infection) to (someone)

Example: ‘I hope I don't give you my cold’;

pass (a message) to (someone)

Example: ‘give my love to all the girls’;

make a connection to allow (someone) to speak to (someone else) on the telephone

Example: ‘give me the police’;

carry out or perform (a specified action)

Example: ‘he gave the counter a polish’; ‘I gave a bow’;

produce (a sound)

Example: ‘he gave a gasp’;

present (an appearance or impression)

Example: ‘he gave no sign of life’;

provide (a party or social meal) as host or hostess

Example: ‘Kate gave him a leaving party’; ‘a dinner given in honour of an American diplomat’;

yield as a product or result

Example: ‘milk is sometimes added to give a richer cheese’;

emit odour, vapour, or similar substances

Example: ‘some solvents give off toxic fumes’;

concede (something) as valid or deserved in respect of (someone)

Example: ‘give him his due’;

place a specified value on (something)

Example: ‘he never gave anything for French painting’;

(of an umpire or referee) declare whether or not (a player) is out or offside

Example: ‘Gooch was given out, caught behind’;

adjudicate that (a goal) has been legitimately scored

Example: ‘the referee gave the goal’;

state or put forward (information or argument)

Example: ‘he did not give his name’;

pledge or offer as a guarantee

Example: ‘I give you my word’;

say to (someone) as an excuse or inappropriate answer

Example: ‘don't give me any of your backchat’;

deliver (a judgement) authoritatively

Example: ‘I gave my verdict’;

predict that (an activity or relationship) will last no longer than (a specified time)

Example: ‘this is a place that will not improve with time—I give it three weeks’;

tell what one knows

Example: ‘okay, give—what's that all about?’;

alter in shape under pressure rather than resist or break

Example: ‘that chair doesn't give’;

yield or give way to pressure

Example: ‘the heavy door didn't give until the fifth push’; ‘when two people who don't get on are thrust together, something's got to give’;

concede defeat; surrender

Example: ‘I give!’;

capacity to bend or alter in shape under pressure

Example: ‘plastic pots that have enough give to accommodate the vigorous roots’;

ability to adapt; flexibility

Example: ‘there is no give at all in the British position’;

(transitive) To count, reckon, or enumerate.

Example: ‘All told, there were over a dozen.’; ‘Can you tell time on a clock?’; ‘He had untold wealth.’;

(transitive) To narrate.

Example: ‘I want to tell a story;’; ‘I want to tell you a story.’;

(transitive) To convey by speech; to say.

Example: ‘Finally, someone told him the truth.’; ‘He seems to like to tell lies.’;

(transitive) To instruct or inform.

Example: ‘Please tell me how to do it.’;

(transitive) To order; to direct, to say to someone.

Example: ‘Tell him to go away.’;

(intransitive) To discern, notice, identify or distinguish.

Example: ‘Can you tell whether those flowers are real or silk, from this distance?’; ‘No, there's no way to tell.’;

(transitive) To reveal.

Example: ‘Time will tell what became of him.’;

(intransitive) To be revealed.

(intransitive) To have an effect, especially a noticeable one; to be apparent, to be demonstrated.

Example: ‘Sir Gerald was moving slower; his wounds were beginning to tell.’;

To use beads or similar objects as an aid to prayer.

To inform someone in authority about a wrongdoing.

Example: ‘I saw you steal those sweets! I'm going to tell!’;

To reveal information in prose through outright expository statement -- contrasted with show

Example: ‘Maria rewrote the section of her novel that talked about Meg and Sage's friendship to have less telling and more showing.’;

A reflexive, often habitual behavior, especially one occurring in a context that often features attempts at deception by persons under psychological stress (such as a poker game or police interrogation), that reveals information that the person exhibiting the behavior is attempting to withhold.

(archaic) That which is told; a tale or account.

(internet) A private message to an individual in a chat room; a whisper.

(archaeology) A hill or mound, originally and especially in the Middle East, over or consisting of the ruins of ancient settlements.

To mention one by one, or piece by piece; to recount; to enumerate; to reckon; to number; to count; as, to tell money.

Example: ‘He telleth the number of the stars.’; ‘Tell the joints of the body.’;

To utter or recite in detail; to give an account of; to narrate.

Example: ‘Of which I shall tell all the array.’; ‘And not a man appears to tell their fate.’;

To make known; to publish; to disclose; to divulge.

Example: ‘Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?’;

To give instruction to; to make report to; to acquaint; to teach; to inform.

Example: ‘A secret pilgrimage,That you to-day promised to tell me of?’;

To order; to request; to command.

Example: ‘He told her not to be frightened.’;

To discern so as to report; to ascertain by observing; to find out; to discover; as, I can not tell where one color ends and the other begins.

To make account of; to regard; to reckon; to value; to estimate.

Example: ‘I ne told no dainity of her love.’;

To give an account; to make report.

Example: ‘That I may publish with the voice of thankgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.’;

To take effect; to produce a marked effect; as, every shot tells; every expression tells.

Example: ‘Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David.’;

That which is told; tale; account.

Example: ‘I am at the end of my tell.’;

A hill or mound.

a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap)

express in words;

Example: ‘He said that he wanted to marry her’; ‘tell me what is bothering you’; ‘state your opinion’; ‘state your name’;

let something be known;

Example: ‘Tell them that you will be late’;

narrate or give a detailed account of;

Example: ‘Tell what happened’; ‘The father told a story to his child’;

give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority;

Example: ‘I said to him to go home’; ‘She ordered him to do the shopping’; ‘The mother told the child to get dressed’;

discern or comprehend;

Example: ‘He could tell that she was unhappy’;

inform positively and with certainty and confidence;

Example: ‘I tell you that man is a crook!’;

give evidence;

Example: ‘he was telling on all his former colleague’;

mark as different;

Example: ‘We distinguish several kinds of maple’;

communicate information to someone in spoken or written words

Example: ‘we must be told the facts’; ‘‘We have nothing in common,’ she told him’; ‘he's telling the truth’; ‘I told her you were coming’;

order or advise someone to do something

Example: ‘tell him to go away’;

relate (a story)

Example: ‘he tried to make the children laugh by telling jokes’; ‘tell me the story again’;

reveal (information) to someone in a non-verbal way

Example: ‘the smile on her face told him everything’; ‘the figures tell a different story’;

divulge confidential or private information

Example: ‘promise you won't tell’;

inform someone of the misdemeanours of

Example: ‘friends don't tell on each other’;

decide or determine correctly or with certainty

Example: ‘I couldn't tell if he believed me’; ‘you can tell they're in love’;

perceive (the difference between one person or thing and another)

Example: ‘I can't tell the difference between margarine and butter’;

(of an experience or period of time) have a noticeable, typically harmful, effect on someone

Example: ‘the strain of supporting the family was beginning to tell on him’;

(of a particular factor) play a part in the success or otherwise of someone or something

Example: ‘lack of fitness told against him on his first run of the season’;

count (the members of a group)

Example: ‘the shepherd had told all his sheep’;

(especially in poker) an unconscious action that is thought to betray an attempted deception.

(in the Middle East) an artificial mound formed by the accumulated remains of ancient settlements.