These words all mean to hand over freely to another. To give is primarily to transfer to another’s possession without compensation, but he word also has many extended senses; a boxer gives a bow, a clock gives time, a delinquent child gives trouble. Give is the most general word in this group and may be used interchangeably with any of the other words listed in most contexts.

Award usually implies that the thing given is deserved, and the giver is in some sense a judge. Thus prizes are awarded to those who win contests, and damages are awarded to those who win civil lawsuits.

Accord implies that the thing given either is deserved or is proper or suitable to the receiver for some other reason. Thus one may accord praise to those who do good deeds, but may also accord respect to one’s superiors merely because of their status.

To confer is to give in approval or as a reward: to confer knighthood; to confer an honorary degree.

Grant implies that one gives something out of generosity, mercy or a sense of justice, often in response to supplication. Grant points strongly to the giver’s discretion to do as he pleases, and to the would-be receiver as depending utterly on that discretion: to grant a favour to a friend; a captain who granted his crew shore leave.