gave back

Returned to owner

Gave back is the past tense of give back, meaning to return something to its owner or source: She gave back the borrowed books.

It also means to contribute to a community or cause that has benefited you: After his success, he gave back by funding scholarships.

This charitable sense has become prominent in corporate and philanthropic language.

Related

returned the favor · atone · made amends · return · restituted · redress · compensate · rectify · remitted · pass · reimburse · indemnify · giveback · redelivered · hand · hand over · coughed up · amend

Opposites
possession transfer direction

gave backtook

Grasped in the past

took away · seized · confiscated · appropriated · grabbed

retention vs. return

gave backkept

Didn't give away

retained · held onto · withheld · hoarded · pocketed

reciprocity and contribution

gave backexploited

Unfairly utilized for benefit

extracted · depleted · drained · leeched · freeloaded

Family

give, back, gave, given, gives, giver, givers, backs, backed

Familiarity
Top 20,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G