Cool MateDeliver vs Give it to
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Deliver
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Give it to
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Deliver
| Deliver | Give it to | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈlɪvə(r)/","/dɪˈlɪvəz/","/dɪˈlɪvəd/","/dɪˈlɪvərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈlɪvər/","/dɪˈlɪvərz/","/dɪˈlɪvərd/","/dɪˈlɪvərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɡɪv ɪt tuː//🇺🇸 //ɡɪv ɪt tə// |
| Meaning | to bring something to someone | Hand something over to someone. |
| Example | The courier will deliver the package by noon. | Please give it to me when you are done. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | free of charge, by hand, personally, to, by, via, have something delivered, consistently, effectively, efficiently, on, safely, by Caesarean, by Caesarean section, safely, by Caesarean, by Caesarean section | give it to someone, give it to me, give it to them |
| Antonyms | receive, withhold, retain | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'devour' — both start with 'd,' but have different meanings., Using 'delivered' intransitively — 'deliver' needs an object., Saying 'delivering to' without specifying the recipient. | Confuse with 'give up' which means to stop trying., Omit the 'to' when specifying the recipient., Use with incorrect object pronouns. |
| Usage notes | Used when giving items, messages, or services. Appropriate in most contexts, but avoid in very casual speech. In formal writing, specify what is being delivered. | Use in everyday conversation to express handing something to someone. Avoid in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Deliver vs Give it to
What's the difference between Deliver and Give it to?
Deliver: to bring something to someone Give it to: Hand something over to someone.
Which is more common: Deliver and Give it to?
Deliver is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Deliver: The courier will deliver the package by noon. Give it to: Please give it to me when you are done.
Can I use Deliver and Give it to interchangeably?
Not always. Deliver and Give it to are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.