Gift:
A gift is an item given to someone without the expectation of payment. Gift can refer to anything that makes other happier or less sad, especially as a favor including forgiveness and kindness. Gifts are also first and foremost presented on occasions. Gifts are formal.
Present:
A present is a gift that must be presented to the person that you are giving it to. It is associated with the special occasions such as birthday, wedding, etc. The presents are more intimate.
Differences:
| Basis | Gift | Present |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present (www.oxforddictionaries.com) |
something that you are given, without asking for it, on a special occasion, especially to show friendship, or to say thank you (www.dictionary.cambridge.org) |
| Synonyms | Capability, offering, gratuity, capacity, flair, donation | Introduce, donation, confer, furnish, show, exhibit |
| Antonyms | Disability, forfeiture, incompetence, inadequacy, penalty | Missing, lost, absent, withhold, take, old, previous |
| Word origin | The word gift was originated from Middle English: from Old Norse gipt; related to give. | The word present was originated from Middle English: via Old French from Latin praesent- ‘being at hand’, present participle of praeesse, from prae ‘before’ + esse ‘be’. |
| Language | Gifts are formal. | Presents are more intimate. |
| Occasion | A gift is normally given to help someone or to appreciate someone in a formal capacity. | A present is normally given to appreciate someone or to remember an event or a place. |
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