Given vs. Giving: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Published on November 3, 2023
"Given" is primarily the past participle of "give" or can denote a specified factor in a context, while "Giving" is the present participle of "give" indicating the act of bestowing something.
Key Differences
The word "Given" can function in various roles in the English language. Most commonly, it serves as the past participle of the verb "give". For instance, "She has given her best effort." On the other hand, "Giving" is the present participle form of "give" and often denotes the ongoing act of providing or donating, as in "She is giving a presentation."
Beyond its participial uses, "Given" can also act as a preposition or adjective. When used as a preposition, "Given" signifies considering a certain factor, such as "Given the circumstances, we should reconsider." Conversely, "Giving" in its adjective form can describe someone as generous or charitable, like "He has a giving nature."
In mathematical or logical contexts, "Given" can be used to denote a known or established fact or condition. For example, "Given that A equals B, we can deduce C." Meanwhile, "Giving" doesn't have a mathematical connotation but remains rooted in its association with acts of generosity or donation.
From a grammatical angle, "Given" and "Giving" represent different verb forms. "Given" stands as the past participle form, fitting into perfect verb tenses, while "Giving" represents the present participle form, suitable for continuous or progressive tenses.
In summary, while both "Given" and "Giving" stem from the verb "give", they have distinct roles and applications in language. "Given" functions more broadly, acting as a verb, preposition, or adjective, while "Giving" primarily denotes ongoing acts of bestowing or describes generosity.
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Comparison Chart
Grammatical Role
Past participle, adjective, preposition.
Present participle, adjective.
Primary Use
Represents an action completed or known factor.
Indicates the ongoing act of bestowing.
Example Context
Perfect tenses, mathematical/logical premises.
Continuous tenses, describing generosity.
Secondary Meanings
Specified or known factor in a context.
Characterized by readiness to bestow.
Example Usage
"Given her expertise, she led the project."
"She's always giving to charitable causes."
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Given and Giving Definitions
Given
Specifying a particular factor or premise.
Given the rain, we stayed indoors.
Giving
Present participle of the verb "give".
She is giving a speech tomorrow.
Given
An established fact in a situation.
The given variables in the equation are X and Y.
Giving
Producing abundantly; fertile.
The giving soil yielded a rich harvest.
Given
Past participle of the verb "give".
The gift was given with love.
Giving
Indicating an action of donation or presentation.
The giving of gifts is a holiday tradition.
Given
Naturally inherent or habitual.
Her given talent is singing.
Giving
To make a present of
We gave her flowers for her birthday.
Given
Past participle of give.
Giving
To place in the hands of; pass
Give me the scissors.
Given
Specified; fixed
We will meet at a given time and location.
Giving
To deliver in exchange or recompense; pay
Gave five dollars for the book.
Given
Granted as a supposition; acknowledged or assumed
Given the condition of the engine, it is a wonder that it even starts.
Giving
To let go for a price; sell
Gave the used car away for two thousand dollars.
Given
Having a tendency; inclined
My neighbor is given to lavish spending.
Giving
To administer
Give him some cough medicine.
Given
Bestowed as a gift; presented.
Giving
To convey by a physical action
Gave me a punch in the nose.
Given
Something assumed or taken for granted
"It's a given that the writer of short stories will be keeping his day job" (Donald E. Westlake).
Giving
To inflict as punishment
Was given life imprisonment for the crime.
Given
Inflection of give
Giving
To bestow, especially officially; confer
The Bill of Rights gives us freedom of speech.
Given
Considering; taking into account.
Given the current situation, I don't think that's possible.
Giving
To accord or tender to another
Give him your confidence.
Given
A condition that is assumed to be true without further evaluation.
When evaluating this math problem, don't forget to read the givens.
Giving
To put temporarily at the disposal of
Gave them the cottage for a week.
Given
Already arranged. en
Giving
To entrust to another, usually for a specified reason
Gave me the keys for safekeeping.
Given
Currently discussed. en
Giving
To communicate, convey, or offer for conveyance
Give him my best wishes. Give us the latest news.
Given
Particular, specific.
No more than three people can be in that space at a given time.
Giving
To endure the loss of; sacrifice
Gave her son to the war.
Gave her life for her country.
Given
Assumed as fact or hypothesis.
Given that we will get the resources, what do we want to achieve?
Giving
To devote or apply completely
Gives herself to her work.
Given
(with to) Prone, disposed.
He was given to taking a couple of glasses of port at his club.
Giving
To furnish or contribute
Gave their time to help others.
Given
Granted; assumed; supposed to be known; set forth as a known quantity, relation, or premise.
Giving
To offer in good faith; pledge
Give me your word.
Given
Stated; fixed; as, in a given time.
Giving
To allot as a portion or share.
Given
An assumption that is taken for granted
Giving
To bestow (a name, for example).
Given
Specified in advance;
A given number
We will meet at a given time and location
Giving
To attribute (blame, for example) to someone; assign.
Given
Acknowledged as a supposition;
Given the engine's condition, it is a wonder that it started
Giving
To award as due
Gave us first prize.
Given
Having possession delivered or transferred without compensation
Giving
To emit or utter
Gave a groan.
Gave a muted response.
Given
(usually followed by `to') naturally disposed toward;
He is apt to ignore matters he considers unimportant
I am not minded to answer any questions
Giving
To submit for consideration, acceptance, or use
Give an opinion.
Give an excuse.
Given
Granted or assumed as a premise.
Given that it's true, we must act.
Giving
To proffer to another
Gave the toddler my hand.
Giving
To consent to engage (oneself) in sexual intercourse with another person.
Giving
To perform for an audience
Give a recital.
Giving
To present to view
Gave the sign to begin.
Giving
To offer as entertainment
Give a dinner party.
Giving
To propose as a toast.
Giving
To be a source of; afford
His remark gave offense. Music gives her pleasure.
Giving
To cause to catch or be subject to (a disease or bodily condition)
The draft gave me a cold.
Giving
To guide or direct, as by persuasion or behavior. Used with an infinitive phrase
You gave me to imagine you approved of my report.
Giving
To yield or produce
Cows give milk.
Giving
To bring forth or bear
Trees that give fruit.
Giving
To produce as a result of calculation
5 × 12 gives 60.
Giving
To manifest or show
Gives promise of brilliance.
Gave evidence of tampering.
Giving
To carry out (a physical movement)
Give a wink.
Give a start.
Giving
To permit one to have or take
Gave us an hour to finish.
Giving
To take an interest to the extent of
"My dear, I don't give a damn" (Margaret Mitchell).
Giving
To make gifts or donations
Gives generously to charity.
Giving
To yield to physical force
The sail gave during the storm.
Giving
To collapse from force or pressure
The roof gave under the weight of the snow.
Giving
To yield to change
Both sides will have to give on some issues.
Giving
To afford access or a view; open
The doors give onto a terrace.
Giving
(Slang) To be in progress; happen
What gives?.
Giving
Capacity or inclination to yield under pressure.
Giving
The quality or condition of resilience; springiness
"Fruits that have some give ... will have more juice than hard ones" (Elizabeth Schneider).
Giving
Present participle of give
Giving
Having the tendency to give; generous
Giving
The act of bestowing as a gift; a conferring or imparting.
Giving
A gift; a benefaction.
Giving
The act of softening, breaking, or yielding.
Giving
The act of bestowing as a gift; a conferring or imparting.
Giving
A gift; a benefaction.
Giving
The act of softening, breaking, or yielding.
His givings out were of an infinite distanceFrom his true meant design.
Giving
The act of giving
Giving
The imparting of news or promises etc.;
He gave us the news and made a great show of the giving
Giving his word of honor seemed to come too easily
Giving
Disposing of property by voluntary transfer without receiving value in return;
The alumni followed a program of annual giving
Giving
Given or giving freely;
Was a big tipper
The bounteous goodness of God
Bountiful compliments
A freehanded host
A handsome allowance
Saturday's child is loving and giving
A liberal backer of the arts
A munificent gift
Her fond and openhanded grandfather
Giving
Generous in providing to others.
His giving nature is well-known.
Giving
Relating to the act of giving.
The season of giving is approaching.
FAQs
Can "Giving" be used as a noun?
Yes, "Giving" can be a noun denoting the act of giving, like in "charitable giving."
Is "Given" only used in mathematical contexts?
No, while it can specify known factors in math, it's also used in everyday language.
Is "Giving Tuesday" related to the term "Giving"?
Yes, "Giving Tuesday" is a day promoting charitable giving.
How is "Given" different from "Given to"?
"Given" can indicate a past action or known fact. "Given to" often means prone to, like "given to bouts of anger."
What's the opposite of "Given" when used as a known factor?
When "Given" denotes a known factor, its opposite might be "unknown" or "variable."
Can "Giving" describe a person?
Yes, describing someone as "giving" means they're generous or charitable.
Can "Giving" relate to non-material things?
Yes, one can be "giving" of their time, energy, or attention.
Is "Given" always related to the past?
Not always. While "Given" can indicate a past action, it can also mean a specified or known factor.
How is "Given" used as a preposition?
As a preposition, "Given" introduces a fact or premise, like "Given his age, he's quite agile."
Is "Given name" someone's first name?
Yes, a "Given name" is typically a person's first name, as opposed to their surname.
Is "Giving in" related to "Giving"?
Yes, "Giving in" is a phrasal verb meaning to yield or surrender.
Can "Giving" describe land?
Yes, land described as "giving" is often fertile and productive.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
