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to regift

to regift

4 6.4
Give someone a present you got from someone else instead of keeping it
  • verb
  • /riˈɡɪft/
  • Informal
: re regalar
  • After receiving two identical sweaters, she decided to regift one to her sister.

I think it's fine to regift if A this person will have no way to track it back or B, you go, I'm regifting this.

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Examples

  • Some parties, especially those that call themselves White Elephant or regifting parties, include used items, thereby bringing personal possessions, which have been wrapped and rendered anonymous, into the mix.

    Academic text (2013)
  • What are your thoughts on regifting a ring?

    Blog text (5)
  • I think it's fine to regift if A this person will have no way to track it back or B, you go, I'm regifting this.

  • As far as regifting a ring, I would broach the subject with her first to gauge her reaction.

    Blog text (5)
  • He got what he wanted for Christmas, America, and he's regifting it to his buddies.

  • Really though, I think the idea of buying a ring that works for her and is not regifted (unless truly a family heirloom) is a good way to go.

    Blog text (5)
  • Many people choose to regift unwanted holiday presents to friends or family.

  • If you don't like the gift, consider whether to regift it to someone who would appreciate it more.

Synonyms

to give away
vsto regift
490 2.0

Hand something to someone without asking for money

focuses on passing on a received present instead of donating or discarding
to gift
vsto regift
27 2.1

To give someone something as a present

passes on a present one received instead of keeping or using it

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

To store something for later use

Surface Forms

regift infinitive
regifted past
regifted past participle
regifting present participle
regifts third person singular

Morphology

regift = gift (semi-transparent) = re + gift

The prefix 're-' and verb 'gift' clearly suggest giving as a gift again, but the usual sense specifically means passing on a gift one previously received.

Etymology

Regift is made from the prefix re- meaning 'again' and the word gift meaning 'present'. So, to regift is to give a present again, often one you received from someone else instead of keeping it.