give back
Return the favor
Give back means to return something to its owner or source: Give me back my keys.
The phrase extends to reciprocating benefits received: She wanted to give back to the community that raised her.
This charitable sense—volunteering, donating, mentoring—has become the dominant use, sometimes criticized as self-congratulatory when proclaimed loudly.
Payment for services rendered
- refundMoney returned after purchase
- reimbursementPayment for incurred expenses
- reparationCompensation for injury done
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
restore · return · repay · make whole · redress · remedy · repair · reconciliation
Shared dependence or exchange
- reciprocateReturn in kind
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- pay it forwardPass kindness to others
- in-kindWith goods, not money
partnership · interdependence · mutual aid · exchange · sharing · collective · turnabout · favor
Generous giving for others
- donationVoluntary charitable gift
- nonprofitOrganization serving public good
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- aidSupport given freely
relief · benefactor · endowment · fundraising · humanitarian · sponsorship · welfare · contribution
Recognition of worth
- thankfulnessAppreciative state of mind
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
- thanksgivingExpression of grateful praise
blessings · honoring · tribute · mentor · roots · hometown · alma mater · community
Distributing earnings among workers
- dividendCorporate profit share
- bonusReward beyond expectation
- employee ownershipStaff holding company shares
- stakeholderParty with an interest
sustainability · corporate responsibility · social enterprise · ethical business · community development · local sourcing · fair trade · impact investing
compensation
Payment for services rendered
- refundMoney returned after purchase
- reimbursementPayment for incurred expenses
- reparationCompensation for injury done
amends · restore · return · repay · make whole · redress · remedy · repair · reconciliation · atonement
mutuality
Shared dependence or exchange
- reciprocateReturn in kind
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- pay it forwardPass kindness to others
in-kind · partnership · interdependence · mutual aid · exchange · sharing · collective · turnabout · favor · goodwill
philanthropy
Generous giving for others
- donationVoluntary charitable gift
- nonprofitOrganization serving public good
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
aid · relief · benefactor · endowment · fundraising · humanitarian · sponsorship · welfare · contribution · foundation
appreciation
Recognition of worth
- thankfulnessAppreciative state of mind
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
thanksgiving · blessings · honoring · tribute · mentor · roots · hometown · alma mater · community · legacy
profit-sharing
Distributing earnings among workers
- dividendCorporate profit share
- bonusReward beyond expectation
- employee ownershipStaff holding company shares
stakeholder · sustainability · corporate responsibility · social enterprise · ethical business · community development · local sourcing · fair trade · impact investing · triple bottom line
- phrasal verbspick up, look at, put down, turn on, turn off
- returnsreturn, rebound, comeback, refund, rebate
- helpingaid, assist, help, helping hand, support
- reciprocityreciprocity, likewise, mutual benefit, mutualism, two-way street
- reconciliationreconciliation, reconcile, reconciled, reconciling, making up
- pep talkskeep going, you got this, hang in there, keep pushing, believe in yourself
give backtake
Capture or filmed segment
confiscate · seize · take away · repossess · expropriate