gift

Something you give someone freely, without asking for payment.

• Here is a gift for you.
• We exchanged gifts at Christmas.
• He gave the museum a painting as a gift.

How to use it: a gift for someone (I bought a gift for my sister.); a gift from someone (This scarf was a gift from my aunt.)

Similar words: present, donation

Common phrases: birthday gift, wedding gift, give a gift, gift for someone

A special ability that you have naturally.

• He has a gift for music.
• Her gift for storytelling makes every lesson interesting.
• The twins have very different gifts.

How to use it: a gift for something/doing something (She has a gift for explaining difficult ideas.)

Similar words: talent, ability, knack

Common phrases: natural gift, gift for something, gift for music, special gift

The act of giving something, or the right to choose who receives it, especially a position.

• The post is in the mayor's gift.
• Several church appointments remained in the king's gift.
• The land passed to her by gift.

How to use it: be in someone's gift (The appointment is in the governor's gift.)

Similar words: bestowal

Common phrases: in someone's gift, by gift, gift of office

To give something to someone as a present or donation.

• They gifted us a tree.
• She gifted the painting to a museum.
• He plans to gift some shares to his children.

How to use it: gift something to someone (She gifted her collection to the library.); gift someone something (My uncle gifted me his old camera.)

Similar words: give, donate, present

Common phrases: gift someone something, gift something to, gift a painting