ɡɪv bæk
neutral
beginner
- Base verb:
- give
- Particle:
- back
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "give back" mean?
- To return something to its owner
- To contribute to society or community in return for success
Examples
- Can you give back the book I lent you last month?
- He believes it's important to give back to the community.
- The charity allows successful people to give back to those in need.
- Give me back my phone right now!
- After becoming wealthy, she wanted to give back to her hometown.
How to use it
'Giving back' often refers to philanthropy or community service. Very common in discussions about corporate social responsibility.
Word order
Separable: 'give something back' or 'give back something'
Similar expressions
return
restore
repay
contribute
Opposites
take
keep
withhold
Related phrasal verbs
- give up
To stop trying to do something, often because it is too difficult
- give away
To give something to someone for free
- give in
To finally agree to something after refusing or resisting
- give out
To distribute something to multiple people
- give off
To emit or produce something (smell, heat, light, radiation)
- get back
To return to a place
Use it in a practice answer
Try "give back" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.