Showing results for "given"

• past participle of give.

given

American  

[giv-uhn] / ˈgɪv ən /

verb

1. past participle of give.

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adjective

1. stated, fixed, or specified.

   at a given time.

2. addicted or disposed (often followed byto ).

   given to making snide remarks.

3. bestowed as a gift; conferred.

4. assigned as a basis of calculation, reasoning, etc..

   Given A and B, C follows.

5. Mathematics. known or independently determined.

   a given magnitude.

6. (on official documents) executed and delivered as of the date shown.

noun

givens plural

1. an established fact, condition, factor, etc.

given British  

/ ˈɡɪvən /

verb

1. the past participle of give

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adjective

1. tending (to); inclined or addicted (to)

2. specific or previously stated

3. assumed as a premise

4. maths known or determined independently

   a given volume

5. (on official documents) issued or executed, as on a stated date

noun

1. an assumed fact

2. philosophy the supposed raw data of experience See also sense datum

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-given
  adjective
• ungiven
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• givens
  plural

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

given givens

Treasurys, given both JGBs and Treasurys tend to move in tandem.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

She told followers that Adeyemi had given the actor her blessing when cast as the series’ princess.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

After the mortgages were given out, the banker would look up the properties online.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

But Judge Paul Hobson questioned why he was relying on his partner, particularly given Morecroft was in a well-paid job since before the offence was exposed.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

In my right hand I ready a long cord, preparing to plug it into the corresponding jack for whichever telephone number I’m given.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

His thinking begins instead with three separate givens: God, world, human being.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026

They call each other wives, because in 2025 same-sex marriage and parenting are givens, not distant fantasies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2025

But coach Bev Priestman suggested that growing parity means there are no givens.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 17, 2023

It is only in such moments, when the musical acknowledges its givens, that it comes to life.

From New York Times ● Nov. 10, 2021

The givens, all I’d been taught, fell away like so many covers when you sit up in bed.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez