What does "misgive" mean?
Of the mind, heart, etc.: to give fear or doubt to; to make irresolute.
Misgive
verb
verb ·2 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Of the mind, heart, etc.: to give fear or doubt to; to make irresolute.
- Grammar: misgive is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: apprehend, challenge, contest, dispute.
- Usage evidence: As Henry’s late presaging prophecy / Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond, / So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts / What may befall him, to his harm and ours:
How to use "misgive"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "misgive" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "misgive" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "misgive" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "misgive" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "misgive" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "apprehend" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "misgive", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 Of the mind, heart, etc.: to give fear or doubt to; to make irresolute. archaic, transitive
"As Henry’s late presaging prophecy / Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond, / So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts / What may befall him, to his harm and ours:"
- 2 suggest fear or doubt wordnet
- 3 To suspect; to dread. archaic, transitive
"[…] But for he had hir sought, / And coulde not finde hir any where, assuredly he thought / She did not liue aboue the molde, ne drewe the vitall breath: / Misgiuing worser in his minde, if ought be worse than death."
- 4 To give wrongly; to give or grant amiss. archaic, transitive
"1700, William Laud, An Historical Account of All Material Transactions Relating to the University of Oxford in The history of the troubles and tryal of the Most Reverend Father in God and blessed martyr, William Laud, Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, London: Ri[chard] Chiswell, p. 192, […] I protest unto you, I knew nothing of any of their Liberty misgiven or misused, till about a Fortnight since […]"
Example
"As Henry’s late presaging prophecy / Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond, / So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts / What may befall him, to his harm and ours:"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "misgive"?
Common synonyms include: apprehend, challenge, contest, dispute, distrust, doubt.
How do you use "misgive" in a sentence?
As Henry’s late presaging prophecy / Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond, / So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts / What may befall him, to his harm and ours:
Etymology
from mis- + give, from Middle English give (“suggest, give”). Compare given and what gives.