give over

use time, space, or money for a particular purpose

B2

What does "give sth over to sth" mean?

To give something over to a purpose means to dedicate it fully or primarily to that purpose. It suggests that a space, period of time, or resource is committed to one particular use, often to the exclusion of others. The passive form — 'be given over to' — is by far the most natural and common way to use this phrasal verb, and learners should prioritise it. You'll often encounter it in journalism, property writing, and historical descriptions, for example when discussing how land, buildings, or events are used. The subject is almost always something concrete like a room, a plot of land, an afternoon, or a page — not a person.

Examples

How to use it

subject (space/time/resource) + be given over to + noun/gerund

This is the most common and natural pattern — the passive is dominant and should be treated as the default form.

The entire basement was given over to storage.

give + noun object + over to + noun/gerund

In the active voice, a human subject dedicates something to a purpose, with the object placed between the verb and particle.

The organisers gave the final hour over to audience questions.

give + pronoun + over to + noun/gerund

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'give' and 'over', not after 'over'.

The garden had become overgrown, so they gave it over to wildflowers.

give over + noun object + to + noun/gerund

The unseparated active form is less common but grammatical, often used with longer or more formal noun phrases.

The committee decided to give over the morning session to reviewing the proposals.

have been/has been given over to + noun/gerund

The present perfect passive is common when describing how something's use has changed or evolved over time.

Much of the surrounding farmland has been given over to housing development.

Common Collocations

given over to agriculturegiven over to storagegiven over to debategiven over to housinggiven over to discussiongiven over to reflection

Common Mistakes

Using a bare infinitive after 'to'

The 'to' in 'given over to' is a preposition, so it must be followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form), never a bare infinitive.

✗ The field was given over to grow vegetables.
✓ The field was given over to growing vegetables.
Confusing with the British informal 'give over!'

In British English, 'give over!' is an exclamation meaning 'stop it!' or 'don't be ridiculous'. The 'devote' sense always requires 'to' followed by a noun or gerund — if there's no 'to' complement, it's a different meaning entirely.

Omitting 'to' after 'given over'

The preposition 'to' is essential in this sense and cannot be dropped. Without it, the sentence is incomplete and the meaning is lost.

✗ The room was given over storage.
✓ The room was given over to storage.

Usage

This sense is most commonly used in the passive voice ('be given over to') and appears frequently in written English such as journalism and property descriptions. It is neutral in register and works in both British and American English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'give over to' more common in British or American English?

It's used in both British and American English and is neutral in terms of regional variation. However, be aware that 'give over!' as a British exclamation meaning 'stop it!' is a completely separate usage that is only found in British and Irish English.

Does 'give over to' always have to be in the passive?

Not always, but the passive ('be given over to') is by far the most natural and frequently used form. The active voice is grammatical — for example, 'They gave the afternoon over to discussion' — but you'll encounter the passive much more often in real English, especially in writing.

Can I use 'give over to' in the present continuous, like 'is being given over to'?

This form sounds awkward in most situations and is best avoided. If you want to describe a space or resource that is dedicated to a purpose, use the simple present ('is given over to') or the present perfect ('has been given over to') instead.

What kinds of subjects work with 'given over to'?

Typically concrete things like spaces (a room, a building, land), time periods (an afternoon, a session, a year), or resources (a page, a budget). It would sound unnatural to use a person as the subject in the passive — this phrasal verb is about dedicating things to purposes, not people.

Is 'given over to' the same as 'set aside for'?

They're close in meaning, but 'given over to' often implies a more complete or lasting dedication, whereas 'set aside for' can suggest something more temporary or partial. For example, 'the land was given over to farming' suggests a full commitment, while 'the land was set aside for farming' might imply it's reserved but not yet in full use.

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