Phrasal Verbs with “Give”

Here’s the ultimate list of phrasal verbs with “give.”

“Give away” Meaning and Examples

Give away – Meaning 1

To walk a bride down the aisle and deliver her to the groom. The person doing this is usually a significant male in the bride’s life.

Example

Sarah’s father gave her away at her wedding. It was an emotional ceremony.

Sarah’s father walked her down the aisle at her wedding. It was an emotional ceremony

Give away – Meaning 2

To give something no longer useful for you to someone else in order to get rid of it.

Example

Andy gave away his old toys at the end of Toy Story 3.

Andy got rid of his old toys at the end of Toy Story 3.

Give away – Meaning 3

When a parent abandons their child and gives them to another person so they can raise them as their own.

Example

Rey never understood why her parents had given her away.

Rey never understood why her parents abandoned her.

Give away – Meaning 4

Used when a store, company, etc. holds a contest in order to promote a product or gain something. Used as a noun.

Example

They couldn’t believe they had won the giveaway.

They couldn’t believe they had won the contest.

Give away – Meaning 5

To reveal something that should have remained secret.

Example

Her expression gave away her true feelings.

Her expression revealed her true feelings.

Give away – Meaning 6

To reveal the location of someone who was hidden from law enforcement.

Example

Feeling guilty, the accomplice gave away the location where the victim was being held.

Feeling guilty, the accomplice revealed the location where the victim was being held. 

Give away – Meaning 7

To give the opponents in a match or game some advantage by making mistakes, usually ending with said opponents as winners.

Example

Spain gave away the match after an own goal in the first half.

Spain lost the match after scoring an own goal in the first half.

“Give back” Meaning and Examples

Give back – Meaning 1

To return something to its original owner, usually after being lend to you by them.

Example

I’ll give back the toolbox to David after I finish repairing the roof.

I’ll return the toolbox to David after I finish repairing the roof.

Give back – Meaning 2

To restore something, like a quality, ability, or freedom, that was lost at some point.

Example

The workers are calling for the company to give them back their rights.

The workers are calling for their rights to be restored.

“Give In” Meaning and Examples

Give in – Meaning 1

To be persuaded to do something, after spending a long time arguing about it with someone else.

Example

Eventually, she gave in and agreed to go on a date with him.

Eventually, she was persuaded and agreed to go on a date with him.

Give in – Meaning 2

To accept you have been defeated.

Example

The government has refused to give in to the demands of the terrorists.

The government has refused to be defeated by the demands of the terrorists.

Give in – Meaning 3

To hand something, usually written on a piece of paper, to someone in a position of authority.

Example

The students gave in the assignment to the teacher.

The students handed the assignment to the teacher.

“Give in to” Meaning and Examples

To allow oneself to do something they want to do but haven’t done in a long time, to yield.

Example

He gave in to temptation and took a drag from the cigarette.

He yielded and took a drag from the cigarette.

“Give into” Meaning and Examples

To lead into a place, usually by a door or a window.

Example

The yellow door gave into an underground lair.

The yellow door led into an underground lair.

“Give of” Meaning and Examples

Give of – Meaning 1

To do things for other people without expecting anything in return, to donate.

Example

The chairman thanked the staff for giving of their time to make the charity drive a success.

The chairman thanked the staff for donating their time to make the charity drive a success.

Give of – Meaning 2

To do something to the best of your capacity.

Example

Ms. Harrison encourages her students to give of their best every day.

Ms. Harrison encourages her students to try their best every day.

“Give off” Meaning and Examples

Give off – Meaning 1

To produce something like light, heat, a sound, etc.

Example

The machine gave off a loud beep after the cycle had ended.

The machine produced a loud beep after the cycle had ended.

Give off – Meaning 2

To give an impression based on quality, such as appearance or behavior, to emit.

Example

The flowers gave off a nice smell to the room.

The flowers emitted a nice smell to the room.

“Give out” Meaning and Examples

Give out – Meaning 1

To give something to a lot of people.

Example

The saleslady gave out samples of the new cookies being sold to passing customers.

The saleslady handed samples of the new cookies being sold to passing customers.

Give out – Meaning 2

To come to an end, to use something up.

Example

The shampoo gave out after one last pump.

The shampoo ended after one last pump.

Give out – Meaning 3

To tell people information in a public or official manner.

Example

The results of the election are expected to be given out by 7 pm.

The results of the election are expected to be told by 7m.

Give out – Meaning 4 

When something stops working due to old age or damage.

Example

The washing machine gave out after 20 years of use.

The washing machine stopped working after 20 years of use.

Give out – Meaning 5

To emit a smell, light, sound, etc.

Example

The lighthouse gave out a weak light.

The lighthouse produced a weak light.

Give out – Meaning 6

To have a particular quality, to exude. 

Example

The woman gave out a confident air.

The woman exuded confident air.

“Give over” Meaning and Examples

Give over – Meaning 1

To tell someone to be quiet.

Example

Give over! Or you’ll have to do the chores for a month.

Be quiet! Or you’ll have to do the chores for a month.

Give over – Meaning 2

An expression used in British English to express disbelief or shock over something.

Example

Amanda eloped with her boyfriend last week! / Give over! They hardly know each other.

Amanda eloped with her boyfriend last week! / I can’t believe it! They hardly know each other.

“Give over to” Meaning and Examples

Give over to – Meaning 1

To use something for something specific.

Example

Friday afternoons were given over to practicing for the school play.

Friday afternoons were devoted to practicing for the school play.

Give over to – Meaning 2

To spend all of your time doing a particular activity or thinking about something.

Example

She had given over her life to caring for her children.

She had spent her life caring for her children.

“Give up” Meanings and Example

Give up – Meaning 1

To stop a habit because it is unhealthy.

Example

Carl gave up smoking for three months.

Carl stopped smoking for three months

Give up – Meaning 2

To stop doing something for one reason or another, to resign, to stop doing something because it is difficult.

Example

Mrs. Johnson gave up her dream job to raise her child.

Mrs. Johnson resigned from her dream job to raise her child.

Kim searched for the ring for hours, but she gave up once the sunset.

Kim searched for the ring for hours, but she stopped once the sunset.

Give up – Meaning 3

To hand a child over to someone else to be raised.

Example

She gave the baby up for adoption.

She handed the baby so it could be adopted.

Give up – Meaning 4

To give someone something you own, but that you don’t necessarily want to get rid of, to rescind.

Example

John gave up his seat to a pregnant lady, even though he was tired.

John rescinded his seat to a pregnant lady, even though he was tired.

Give up – Meaning 5

To surrender oneself into the custody of an authority.

Example

After a long standoff, the criminals gave up to the policemen.

After a long standoff, the criminals surrendered to the policemen.

“Give up on” Meanings and Examples

Give up on – Meaning 1

To stop trying to make something happen or succeed.

Example

Never give up on your dreams.

Never abandon your dreams.

Give up on – Meaning 2

To stop hoping something, someone, or a situation will improve or change just because you want it to, to dismiss.

Example

After being in a coma for six months, the doctors had almost given up on her when she suddenly woke up.

After being in a coma for six months, the doctors had almost dismissed her when she suddenly woke up.

“Give up to”

Give up to – Meaning 1

To allow a positive feeling, usually of pleasure, to take place in one’s mind, to succumb.

Example

At night, she gave up to her thoughts and began daydreaming about their future together.

At night, she succumbed to her thoughts and began daydreaming about their future together.

Give up to – Meaning 2

To commit a certain amount of time to a specific activity, to dedicate time to doing something.

Example

Saturday mornings are given up to calming activities such as yoga and knitting.

Saturday mornings are dedicated to calming activities such as yoga and knitting.