A gift is something that is bestowed on another person without any specific effort on the part of the recipient. It can be a physical item, such as clothing or a car, or an intangible item, like a talent or endowment.
Often, people use the word gift in a more religious sense to mean a sacrifice. In the Bible, Jesus gave gifts to his followers as a way of honoring them and recognizing their faith in him ( Matt 2:11 ).
It is also used to describe ritual sacrifices offered by Christians to God during certain church services or ceremonies. In Eastern Orthodox churches, the bread and wine that is consecrated during the Divine Liturgy are gifts given to God by the congregation.
Some other common uses of the word gift include:
The act by which one person transfers the ownership or possession of a thing to another without any compensation, and sometimes with the expectation of a specific purpose for the transfer. A gift may be in the form of cash, property or anything else owned by the owner that is not encumbered with debts and is transferred without a contract.
A gift can be in the form of a charitable donation or an asset, such as real estate.
Usually, gifts are not taxable as long as they do not exceed a certain amount of money, known as the gift tax exemption. Exceptions to this rule include gifts to children or grandchildren, or direct gifts to educational institutions for tuition and medical expenses.
Some monetary exchanges are not subject to the gift tax no matter how much they may cost, including almost all monetary exchanges between a husband and wife if both are U.S. citizens and all monetary exchanges between two parents and their children if the parents are U.S. citizens and the children are U.S. residents, or if the children are U.S. residents and the parents are U.S. citizens and all monies paid to medical institutions for medical treatment.
The term “gift” is derived from the Latin word for “to give.” It can also be used as a verb to make a gift or to confer a gift on someone, such as by granting a license to a musician or giving an award.
A gift is often a sign of friendship or appreciation. It is a way of saying that you care about a person and want to share your time, resources or talents with them.
For many people, the idea of giving a gift can be a bit intimidating. However, if you have the right idea, it can be an extremely rewarding experience that will last a lifetime.
Whether you’re buying a birthday present, a holiday gift or just a small thank-you, there are plenty of ideas for gifts that will be sure to put a smile on your recipient’s face. From adventurous and experiential gifts to the most thoughtful and personal gifts, we’ve got you covered with this list of some of the best gift ideas around.
