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.

restitution

compensation

Payment for services rendered

amends · restore · return · repay · make whole · redress · remedy · repair · reconciliation · atonement

reciprocity

mutuality

Shared dependence or exchange

in-kind · partnership · interdependence · mutual aid · exchange · sharing · collective · turnabout · favor · goodwill

charity

philanthropy

Generous giving for others

aid · relief · benefactor · endowment · fundraising · humanitarian · sponsorship · welfare · contribution · foundation

gratitude

appreciation

Recognition of worth

thanksgiving · blessings · honoring · tribute · mentor · roots · hometown · alma mater · community · legacy

reinvestment

profit-sharing

Distributing earnings among workers

stakeholder · sustainability · corporate responsibility · social enterprise · ethical business · community development · local sourcing · fair trade · impact investing · triple bottom line

Categories
Opposites
returning versus retaining possession

give backkeep

Retain or fortified tower

hold onto · retain · withhold · hang onto · hoard

restoring versus seizing

give backtake

Capture or filmed segment

confiscate · seize · take away · repossess · expropriate

generosity versus self-interest

give backextract

Concentrated derived substance

exploit · leech · drain · freeload · mooch

Family

giveback, givebacks

Familiarity
Top 10,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G