define present gift

What’s the Difference Between a Gift and a Present?

By arika okrent | nov 30, 2018 | updated: nov 29, 2022, 10:07 am est.

It’s that time again when we’re busy buying, wrapping , and giving them. Sometimes we call them gifts , sometimes presents . Is there a difference?

The words come to us from different language families. Gift comes from the old Germanic root for “to give.” It referred to an act of giving, and then, to the thing being given. In Old English it meant the dowry given to a bride’s parents. Present comes from the French for "to present." A present is the thing being presented or bestowed. Both words were in use for the idea of something undergoing a transfer of possession without expectation of payment from the 13th century onward.

The words gift and present are well-matched synonyms that mean essentially the same thing, but even well-matched synonyms have their own connotations and distinctive patterns of use. Gift applies to a wider range of situations. Gifts can be talents: You can have the gift of gab, or a musical gift. Gifts can be intangibles: There is the gift of understanding or the gift of a quiet day. We generally don’t use present to describe things like that. Presents are more concrete or a bit more, well, present. If your whole family gave donations to your college fund for your birthday would you say “I got a lot of presents”? It doesn’t exactly sound wrong, but since you never hold these donations in your hand, gifts seems to fit better.

Gift can also be an attributive noun, acting like an adjective to modify another noun. What do you call the type of shop where you can buy presents for people? A gift shop. What do you call the basket of presents that you can have sent to all your employees? A gift basket. Present doesn’t work well in this role of describing other nouns. We have gift boxes, gift cards , and gift wrap, not present boxes, present cards, and present wrap.

Gift appears to be used more frequently than present , though it is difficult to get accurate counts, because if you compare occurrences of the noun present with the noun gift , you include that other noun present , meaning the here and now. However, the plural noun presents captures only the word we want. Gifts outnumbers presents in the Corpus of Contemporary American English by four to one.

Still, according to my personal sense of the words, present —though it may not be as common—is more casual sounding than gift . I expect a child to ask Santa Claus for lots and lots of presents, not many, many gifts. But whether it’s gifts or presents you prefer, I wish you many and lots this year, of both the tangible and intangible kind.

Have you got a Big Question you’d like us to answer? If so, let us know by emailing us at [email protected] .

A version of this story ran in 2018; it has been updated for 2022.

Definition of 'gift'

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Video: pronunciation of gift

gift in British English

Gift in british english, gift in american english, examples of 'gift' in a sentence gift, more idioms containing gift, cobuild collocations gift, trends of gift.

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Synonyms of gift

• as in donation
• as in talent
• as in to bless
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Thesaurus Definition of gift

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• presentation
• contribution
• benefaction
• benevolence
• philanthropy
• beneficence
• care package
• remembrance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• peace offering
• predisposition
• inclination
• disposition
• predilection
• proficiency
• shortcoming

Thesaurus Definition of gift  (Entry 2 of 2)

• bestow (on or upon)
• confer (on)

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun gift differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of gift are aptitude , bent , faculty , genius , knack , and talent . While all these words mean "a special ability for doing something," gift often implies special favor by God or nature.

When can aptitude be used instead of gift ?

The words aptitude and gift can be used in similar contexts, but aptitude implies a natural liking for some activity and the likelihood of success in it.

How do bent and aptitude relate to one another, in the sense of gift ?

Bent is nearly equal to aptitude but it stresses inclination perhaps more than specific ability.

Where would faculty be a reasonable alternative to gift ?

In some situations, the words faculty and gift are roughly equivalent. However, faculty applies to an innate or less often acquired ability for a particular accomplishment or function.

When could genius be used to replace gift ?

The meanings of genius and gift largely overlap; however, genius suggests impressive inborn creative ability.

When would knack be a good substitute for gift ?

Although the words knack and gift have much in common, knack implies a comparatively minor but special ability making for ease and dexterity in performance.

In what contexts can talent take the place of gift ?

The synonyms talent and gift are sometimes interchangeable, but talent suggests a marked natural ability that needs to be developed.

Phrases Containing gift

• gift of gab

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Thesaurus Entries Near gift

Cite this entry.

“Gift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gift. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

More from Merriam-Webster on gift

Nglish: Translation of gift for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of gift for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gift

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What’s the Difference Between a Gift and a Present?

• Updated on August 14, 2023

Matt Carlson

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Difference Between a Gift and a Present

The words “gift” and “present” are often used interchangeably. However, there is a subtle difference between the two words. 

A gift is something that is given without expecting anything in return.  

A present is a gift that is given in order to celebrate a special occasion or to show appreciation for something.

For example, if your friend took you on a trip, you might give them a cool present, like a  custom map of the place that they took you, as a way of saying thank you. In this case, there would be  no expectation of receiving anything in return. 

This would be a gift .

However, if you gave your boss a gift card to his favorite store as a way of asking for a raise, you would be giving them the gift card with the expectation of getting something in return (in this case, more money).

This would be a present.

Origins of the words

The word “gift” comes from the Old English word “gift,” which means “give”.

The word “present” comes from the Latin word “praesentare” which means “to show”

Conclusion: Gift vs Present?

The difference between a gift and a present is very subtle. 

To summarize it in one sentence:

When giving, if you are expecting something in return technically it is a present, if you are not then it is a gift. 

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• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of present in English

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present noun ( SOMETHING GIVEN )

• present The coat was a birthday present from my sister.
• gift I have a small gift for you.
• donation After the earthquake, donations poured in from all over the world.
• grant Students receive a grant equal to £250 per month.
• contribution She wanted to make a financial contribution to the family.
• We're having a collection for Tom's retirement present.
• They got an entire set of silver cutlery as a wedding present.
• I was looking for a birthday present for my mother but I didn't find anything suitable .
• Aren't you going to unwrap your presents?
• The children squealed in delight when they saw all the presents under the Christmas tree .
• Christmas box
• Christmas stocking
• secret Santa
• stocking filler

present noun ( NOW )

• I'm usually too immersed in the present to worry about the future .
• Let's talk about the present.
• contemporaneity
• contemporarily
• contemporary
• in this day and age idiom
• the status quo
• there's no time like the present idiom
• this minute idiom

present adjective ( IN A PLACE )

• Mind your language - there are ladies present!
• Is it necessary for all of us to be present at the meeting this afternoon ?
• Melanin is the dark brown pigment of the hair , skin , and eyes that is present in varying amounts in every human being.
• More men are present at the births of their children these days .
• There ought to be an adult present at all times , when there are young children in the pool .
• be in at the kill idiom
• in the flesh idiom
• kick around
• seropositive
• sit through something
• synchronically

present adjective ( NOW )

• Charlie has a clever plan for getting us out of our present difficulties .
• Unlike the present government , we believe in serving the community .
• The present system of payment will remain in effect until the end of the rental agreement .
• The present voting system distorts the wishes of the electorate .
• Are you feeling frustrated in your present job ?

present verb ( GIVE )

• He has a lot more work to do before he can present the scheme to the public .
• Ruth was astonished when he presented her with an engagement ring .
• She presented a well-argued case for the banning of smoking in public places .
• She graciously accepted the flowers that were presented to her.
• The Duchess of Kent will be presenting the trophies .
• accommodate
• accommodate someone with something
• administration
• arm someone with something
• hand something down
• hand something in
• hand something out
• hand something over
• reassignment

present verb ( INTRODUCE )

• I'd like to present my grandson , Jackson Junior.
• He was presented to the Queen and given a knighthood .
• She used to present one of those holiday programmes but now she reads the news .
• May I present Sir Bob Geldof?
• What was that documentary called that she used to present?
• audio described
• audio description
• commentary box
• interchannel
• live stream
• slow motion
• station break
• transmission

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

present verb ( SHOW SIGNS OF ILLNESS )

• adverse reaction
• aggressively
• contraindication
• echocardiogram
• vital signs
• withdrawal symptoms

present | American Dictionary

Present adjective [not gradable] ( grammar ), present adjective [not gradable] ( place ), present verb [t] ( provide ), present verb [t] ( cause ), present verb [t] ( introduce ), present | business english, examples of present, translations of present.

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• present (SOMETHING GIVEN)
• present (NOW)
• the present
• the present (tense)
• present (IN A PLACE)
• present (GIVE)
• present (INTRODUCE)
• present yourself
• present itself
• present (SHOW SIGNS OF ILLNESS)
• present (GRAMMAR)
• present (PLACE)
• present (PROVIDE)
• present (CAUSE)
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being, existing, or occurring at this time or now; current : increasing respect for the present ruler of the small country.

at this time; at hand; immediate : articles for present use.

Grammar . designating a verb tense, construction, or form used to refer to an action or state occurring at the time of speaking or writing: knows is a present form in He knows that.

being with one or others or in the specified or understood place: to be present at the wedding.

being here: Is everyone present?

existing or occurring in a place, thing, combination, or the like: Carbon is present in many minerals.

being actually here or under consideration: the present document; the present topic.

being in the mind; recollected : The memories were still present to her mind.

focused on or involved in what one is doing at a particular moment; attentive : When you’re talking to someone, be present instead of thinking about something else.

Obsolete . mentally alert and calm, especially in emergencies.

Obsolete . immediate or instant: present payment.

the present time: She has one foot in the present and one foot in the future.

Grammar . present tense .

presents, Law . the present writings, or this document, used in a deed of conveyance, a lease, etc., to denote the document itself: Know all men by these presents that . . . .

Obsolete . the matter in hand.

Idioms about present

at present , at the present time or moment; now : There are no job openings here at present.

for the present , for now; temporarily : For the present, we must be content with matters as they stand.

Origin of present

Other words for present, opposites for present, other words from present.

• pres·ent·ness, noun

Words Nearby present

• presence chamber
• presence of mind
• presenile dementia
• presenility
• presentable
• present arms
• presentation
• presentational
• presentationalism

Other definitions for present (2 of 2)

to furnish or endow with a gift or the like, especially by formal act: to present someone with a gold watch.

to bring, offer, or give, often in a formal or ceremonious way: You'll have to present your passport at the airport.

afford or furnish (an opportunity, possibility, etc.).

to hand over or submit, as a bill or a check, for payment: The waiter presented our bill for lunch.

to introduce (a person) to another, especially in a formal manner: Mrs. Smith, may I present Mr. Jones?

to bring before or introduce to the public: to present a new play.

to come to show (oneself) before a person, at a place, etc.

to show or exhibit: This theater will present films on a larger screen.

to bring forth or render for or before another or others; offer for consideration: to present an alternative plan.

to set forth in words; frame or articulate: to present arguments.

to represent, impersonate, or act, as on the stage.

to direct, point, or turn (something) to something or someone: He presented his back to the audience.

to level or aim (a weapon, especially a firearm).

to bring against, as a formal charge against a person.

to bring formally to the notice of the proper authority, as an offense.

British Ecclesiastical . to offer or recommend (a member of the clergy) to the bishop to be granted a benefice.

Medicine/Medical .

(of a fetus) to be visible at the cervix during labor: In a normal delivery, the baby’s head presents first.

(of a medical condition) to be evident from the presence of certain symptoms: Depression often presents with disturbed sleep or appetite.

(of a patient) to have a certain symptom or medical condition, especially as reported during a medical examination: A 22-year-old man presents with shortness of breath.

a thing presented as a gift; gift : Christmas presents.

synonym study For present

• self-pre·sent·ed, adjective
• un·pre·sent·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use present in a sentence

We’re pleased to be present in so many relationships this year, even more so than before.

Republicans, by many accounts, aren’t even considering the arguments being presented in the trial.

We should request that staff conduct a feasibility study and to present the results of that study to this committee by the end of the year.

In five years of Insights puzzles, we’ve tried to present questions that lived up to the column’s name.

He was a tough guy, but also admired and respected by his players and most in the media, present company included.

In his view, a writer has only one duty: to be present in his books.

Angelina Jolie was able to seemingly glide into the Vatican on Thursday to present her new film ‘Unbroken.’

Disordered eating is also linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety, both in the present and in the future.

In the middle of all of that past suffering and present -day conflict, this Cosby bomb was dropped.

The account goes some way in showing just how present the Quds and other forces are in Iraq at this point in time.

But Mrs. Dodd, the present vicar's wife, retained the precious prerogative of choosing the book to be read at the monthly Dorcas.

The Rev. Alonzo Barnard, seventy-one years of age, accompanied by his daughter, was present .

Several pioneers familiar with the facts of the tragedy at the time of its occurrence were also present .

Bacteria, when present in great numbers, give a uniform cloud which cannot be removed by ordinary filtration.

At present , Louis was too self-absorbed by the struggles within him, to look deep into what was passing around him.

British Dictionary definitions for present (1 of 2)

/ ( ˈprɛz ə nt ) /

(prenominal) in existence at the moment in time at which an utterance is spoken or written

(postpositive) being in a specified place, thing, etc : the murderer is present in this room

(prenominal) now in consideration or under discussion : the present topic ; the present author

grammar denoting a tense of verbs used when the action or event described is occurring at the time of utterance or when the speaker does not wish to make any explicit temporal reference

archaic readily available; instant : present help is at hand

archaic mentally alert; attentive

the present the time being; now

the present tense

a verb in this tense

at present at the moment; now

for the present for the time being; temporarily

• See also presents

British Dictionary definitions for present (2 of 2)

to introduce (a person) to another, esp to someone of higher rank

to introduce to the public : to present a play

to introduce and compere (a radio or television show)

to show; exhibit : he presented a brave face to the world

to put forward; submit : she presented a proposal for a new book

to bring or suggest to the mind : to present a problem

to give or award : to present a prize

to endow with or as if with a gift or award : to present a university with a foundation scholarship

to offer formally : to present one's compliments

to offer or hand over for action or settlement : to present a bill

to represent or depict in a particular manner : the actor presented Hamlet as a very young man

to salute someone with (one's weapon) (usually in the phrase present arms )

to aim or point (a weapon)

to nominate (a clergyman) to a bishop for institution to a benefice in his diocese

to lay (a charge, etc) before a court, magistrate, etc, for consideration or trial

to bring a formal charge or accusation against (a person); indict

mainly US (of a grand jury) to take notice of (an offence) from personal knowledge or observation, before any bill of indictment has been drawn up

(intr) med to seek treatment for a particular symptom or problem : she presented with postnatal depression

(intr) informal to produce a favourable, etc impression : she presents well in public ; he presents as harmless but has poisoned his family

present oneself to appear, esp at a specific time and place

anything that is presented; a gift

make someone a present of something to give someone something : I'll make you a present of a new car

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with present

see all present and accounted for; at present; for the moment (present); no time like the present.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Shortest member of Marine Corps on the challenges and triumphs of his service

Casey Kuhn Casey Kuhn

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/shortest-member-of-marine-corps-on-the-challenges-and-triumphs-of-his-service

Nathan Laprade is someone who didn't let height define him. At just over four and a half feet tall, he is thought to be the shortest U.S. Marine on record. As PBS NewsHour digital producer Casey Kuhn reports, he entered boot camp with something to prove.

Read the Full Transcript

Amna Nawaz:

And now a profile of someone who didn't let height define him.

At just over 4.5-feet tall, Nathaniel Laprade is thought to be the shortest U.S. Marine on record.

And as "PBS NewsHour" digital producer Casey Kuhn reports, he entered boot camp with something to prove.

Pfc. Nathaniel LaPrade, U.S. Marine Corps:

If you have a weakness, and you know it's your weakness, I can pretty much promise you that by the end of the time in the military, it will become one of your greatest strengths.

Casey Kuhn:

Nineteen-year-old Private 1st Class Nathaniel Laprade just became a Marine. And at 4'7", he's believed to be the shortest person ever to serve in the U.S. armed forces.

Pfc. Nathaniel LaPrade:

It kind of has affected me my whole life. I was always the shortest guy, whether that be on the soccer team or the wrestling team. Back when I was in high school, there wasn't really eyes on me. It was just, oh, he's the short kid.

And when I joined the Marine Corps, it was, oh, he has something to prove.

To become a Marine, Laprade endured the grueling Marine boot camp training regimen at Parris Island.

And you are taking the first step to become a member of the world's finest fighting force, the United States Marine Corps!

He hiked for miles carrying a 40-pound rucksack and overcame huge obstacles.

There's a lot of weight in our hikes. And, sometimes, they're moving at a faster pace. I don't want to go back and say, oh, it's because I have little legs, but it is a tad harder to keep up. But you just keep your head up, keep your legs moving one foot in front of the other.

And, honestly, I always felt that I had to do better than everyone else. Everywhere I went, it was, where's the short one? We'd be running obstacle courses or on the range. It would be, look at what the little one's doing.

Usually, it was a good thing, because I was really efficient with the obstacle course.

Laprade credits his success at boot camp to guidance from his instructors.

The instructors would tell me either it's all in my head or just push a little harder or dig a little deeper. And, sure enough, I would just do what the instructors tell me to do. And I got through it.

What I will do is, I will pick a role model from them and I will say, I want to be like that guy. And so when he tells me to do something, it's straight on the spot.

His goal is to become a logistics specialist, which means he'd be part of the teams who manage and prepare equipment for deployment.

But Laprade has a longer-term plan. He wants to come back to Parris Island as a drill instructor to motivate other Marines, following in the footsteps of the instructors who motivated him.

So I have always liked teaching. I have always thought of myself good at teaching, because, if I use what they have been using on us, I will be able to become an even better teacher.

A teacher to inspire and command respect, just like the instructors he had.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Casey Kuhn.

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Casey is a producer for NewsHour's digital video team. She has won several awards for her work in broadcast journalism, including a national Edward R. Murrow award.

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