It makes an excellent choice whether you're gifting one bottle for the honeymoon or a case to be savored for years, or even decades, to come.βπ Image Robert Taylor
knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.
the knack of getting along
Examples of gift in a Sentence
Noun
The money was a gift, not a loan.
She considers her voice a God-given gift. Verbgifted with an uncanny ability to persuade people to do things they ordinarily wouldn't
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Noun
Incidentally, said charity is counter to my belief system but the gift would be in my name.βπ Image R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026 Politicians in Massachusetts are prohibited from accepting gifts valued at $50 or more given to influence their official actions or because of their official position.βπ Image Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
UreΓ±aβs errant throw on Meyersβ tapper gifted their first runner of the sixth.βπ Image Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026 And now her husband has gifted her with an executive order that will give her a say over who collects management fees for handling potentially trillions of dollars in wealth.βπ Image Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gift
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Old Norse, something given, talent; akin to Old English giefan to give
gamete intrafallopian transfer; gamete intrafallopian tube transfer
Legal Definition
gift
noun
1
: an intentional and gratuitous transfer of real or personal property by a donor with legal capacity who actually or constructively delivers the property to the donee with the intent of giving up dominion over the property and investing it in the donee who accepts it
broadly: a voluntary transfer of property without compensation see also delivery compare donation, sale
βclass gift
: a usually testamentary gift of a sum to a group of unspecified persons whose number and identity and share of the gift will be determined sometime in the future (as at the death of the donor)
βcompleted gift
: a gift in which the dominion and control of the property is placed beyond the donor's reach
βgift causa mortis\-βΛkΘ―-βzΙ-βΛmΘ―r-βtis, -βΛkauΜ-βsΓ€-βΛmΘ―r-βtΔs \ plural gifts causa mortis
: a gift of especially personal property made in contemplation of impending death that is delivered with the intent that the gift take effect only in the event of the donor's death and that it be revoked in the event of survival compare donation inter vivos and donation mortis causa at donation, gift inter vivos and testamentary gift in this entry
βgift inter vivos\-βΛin-βtΙr-βΛvΔ«-βvΕs; -βΛin-βter-βΛvΔ-βvΕs, -βΛwΔ-βwΕs \ plural gifts inter vivos
: a gift made during the lifetime of the donor and delivered with the intent of surrendering immediately and irrevocably dominion and control over the property compare donation inter vivos at donation, gift causa mortis and testamentary gift in this entry
βgift over plural gifts over
: a gift especially by will of property that takes effect upon the termination or failure of a preceding estate (as a life estate) in the property
βmanual gift
: a gift especially under the civil law of Louisiana made of a movable corporeal object by actual delivery and involving no formalities
βsplit gift
: a gift made by a spouse to a third person that for purposes of gift tax may be considered as given one-half by each spouse to take advantage of tax avoidance devices (as the annual exclusion)
: a gift to a legatee or devisee in substitution for another devisee or legatee who cannot take under the will (as because of death)
called alsosubstitute gift
βtestamentary gift
: a gift that does not become effective until the death of the donor
specifically: a gift made in a will compare gift causa mortis and gift inter vivos in this entry
2
: something voluntarily transferred without compensation
3
: a transfer of property for less than adequate consideration other than in the ordinary course of businessβused in the law of gift tax
Note:
The amount by which the value of property so transferred exceeds the consideration paid is included in the total amount of taxable gifts made during a calendar year.