be given over to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be given over to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something is being surrendered, dedicated, or committed to a particular cause or purpose. Example: "After much consideration, the committee decided that the funds would be given over to the local charity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It is unlikely, they say, that the entire sentencing decision will be given over to judges.

The New York Times

"We didn't envisage that it would be given over to people investing in London.

The Guardian

Week 11 - Wednesday 9 December This session will be given over to individual tutorials.

The Guardian

The first day of the trial today will be given over to procedural arguments.

Independent

What if the majority of the week could be given over to activities other than work?

Independent

Instead that time on every weeknight will be given over to Jay Leno's new prime-time talk show.

The New York Times - Arts

He saw it as inexorable and overwhelmingly beautiful, but fundamentally not his to be given over to, or fully possess.

The New York Times - Books

The rest would be given over to three issues: the nuclear danger, human rights, and the environment.

The New Yorker

The surface, G.M. will argue, will be given over to large-scale agriculture, grazing and parklands, with less space wasted on actual human occupancy.

The New York Times - Books

There are early issues of The New Yorker in which nearly every article is funny; large swathes of The Talk of the Town, which is gently humorous today, used to be given over to short, absurd anecdotes.

The New Yorker

But while these new tools have been welcomed by law enforcement agencies, they're raising concerns about privacy, surveillance and how much power should be given over to computer algorithms.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be given over to" when you want to emphasize that something is being specifically dedicated or allocated for a particular purpose, often implying a planned or intentional transfer. For instance, "The new park will be given over to recreational activities for children."

Common error

Avoid using "be given over to" when simply indicating a general use or occupation of space. It implies a dedicated purpose, not just presence. Don't say, "The room was given over to furniture" if you simply mean the room contained furniture.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be given over to" functions as a passive construction indicating that something is being surrendered, dedicated, or committed to a particular purpose or recipient. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be given over to" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression, primarily observed within news and media contexts. According to Ludwig AI, it correctly conveys the idea of something being surrendered, dedicated, or assigned for a specific purpose. Its usage spans various scenarios, indicating the allocation of resources, time, or space. When writing, remember that it should be used when emphasis is on dedicated or allocated use for a particular purpose, rather than general use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be dedicated to

Focuses on commitment or devotion rather than transfer of control.

be devoted to

Emphasizes strong affection or dedication.

be turned over to

Highlights the act of transferring something to someone else's control.

be handed over to

Similar to 'turned over to' but may imply a more personal or informal transfer.

be assigned to

Highlights a formal allocation or task assignment.

be transferred to

A general term for moving something from one place or control to another.

be allocated to

Focuses on the distribution of resources.

be relinquished to

Implies a formal or legal giving up of something.

be surrendered to

Implies yielding or relinquishing something, often unwillingly.

be consigned to

Suggests something is relegated or handed over, often to something negative.

FAQs

How can I use "be given over to" in a sentence?

You can use "be given over to" to indicate that something is being dedicated or allocated for a specific purpose. For example, "The first day of the conference will "be given over to" introductions and networking."

What's a more formal alternative to "be given over to"?

More formal alternatives include phrases like "be dedicated to" or "be allocated to", which convey a similar meaning of dedication or assignment but with a more formal tone.

How does "be given over to" differ from "be turned over to"?

"Be given over to" implies a planned or intentional allocation, while "be turned over to" suggests a transfer of control or responsibility, often in a less structured or more reactive manner.

Is it correct to say "be give over to" instead of "be given over to"?

No, "be give over to" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is ""be given over to"", which uses the past participle "given" to form the passive voice.