gift
gb/ɡˈɪft/ us/ɡˈɪft/
A2
English
~ 2100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Something given without payment
Something you give to someone for free, often to make them happy or to celebrate something.
Usage pattern:
a gift for [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'gift' with 'present'; both are correct, but 'gift' can also be used in formal or legal contexts where 'present' is less common.
Synonyms
present (Nearly identical in meaning; 'present' is slightly more common in British English for this sense.)
Antonyms
purchase (A purchase involves paying money, unlike a gift.)
Collocations
birthday gift
|wedding gift
|gift shop
|gift card
|wrapped gift
Themes
daily life
|relationships
|celebrations
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She received a beautiful necklace as a birthday gift.
- We bought a small gift for our new neighbors.
- The store sells souvenirs and gift items.
- He gave her a gift to thank her for her help.
- This book was a gift from my parents.
Learner examples
- I got a gift for my friend.
- This watch is a gift from my mother.
- She gave me a gift for my birthday.
- We gave a gift to our teacher.
- He sent me a gift from Japan.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Natural ability or talent
A special skill or natural ability that you are born with or develop easily.
Usage pattern:
a gift for [activity]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with receiving something from someone; here it means an ability, not a physical object.
Synonyms
talent ('Talent' is more common for skills developed through practice, while 'gift' emphasizes natural ability.)
Antonyms
inability (Lack of skill or talent in an area.)
Collocations
a gift for music
|a rare gift
|natural gift
|artistic gift
Themes
personal qualities
|education
|arts
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She has a real gift for languages.
- His gift for storytelling kept the children entertained.
- The pianist's gift was evident even at a young age.
- He was born with the gift of leadership.
Learner examples
- She has a gift for drawing.
- He has a gift for learning new words.
- My sister has a gift for singing.
- He shows a gift for sports.
Verb
B2
action
3
To give something as a gift
To give something to someone for free, usually to be kind or celebrate something.
Usage pattern:
to gift [someone] [something]
Common mistake:
Some learners overuse 'gift' as a verb; in everyday speech 'give' is still more common, except in marketing or formal writing.
Synonyms
present ('Present' as a verb is less common and more formal; 'gift' has become more popular in marketing and online contexts.)
Antonyms
sell (Selling involves receiving payment, unlike gifting.)
Collocations
gift someone something
|gift wrap
|gift generously
Themes
daily life
|relationships
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They gifted us a bottle of wine when they visited.
- The company gifted each employee a holiday bonus.
- She gifted her old books to the local library.
Learner examples
- He gifted me a pen.
- She gifted her friend flowers.
- They gifted the school new computers.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gift
IPA
GB/ɡˈɪft/
US/ɡˈɪft/
Syllables & stress
gift (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (gift)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: gift
- Plural: gifts
Verb
- Base: gift
- 3rd Person Singular: gifts
- Present Participle: gifting
- Past: gifted
Word family
Forms
gifts
noun
gifting
verb
gifted
verb
Related words
regift
verb
Negative and opposite forms
ungifted
adjective
Expressions
a gift from God
1/ə ɡˈɪft fɹˈʌm ɡˈɑd/
idiom
Unexpected blessing or benefit
Something very good and helpful that happens unexpectedly, like a blessing.
Examples
- The rain after months of drought was truly a gift from God.
- Her kindness was like a gift from God when I needed help.
gift card
1/ɡˈɪft kˈɑɹd/
fixed phrase
Prepaid card used as present
A card with money already on it that you can use to buy things from certain stores.
Examples
- My aunt gave me a $50 gift card for my birthday.
- You can use this gift card at any store in the mall.
gift shop
1/ɡˈɪft ʃˈɑp/
fixed phrase
Shop selling gifts and souvenirs
A store that sells small things people buy as presents or souvenirs.
Examples
- We stopped by the museum's gift shop after the tour.
- I bought postcards from the hotel gift shop.
it’s a gift
1/ˈɪts ə ɡˈɪft/
fixed phrase
informal
Saying something comes naturally to you
Used to say that you can do something very well without trying hard.
Examples
- She plays the piano so well—it's a gift.
- I don't know how he cooks so well; it's a gift.
the gift of gab
1/ðə ɡˈɪft əv ɡˈæb/
idiom
informal
Ability to speak well and easily
The ability to talk to people easily and make them like you or believe you.
Examples
- He has the gift of gab and can sell anything.
- She used her gift of gab to make new friends quickly.