give over

verb

gave over; given over; giving over; gives over

transitive verb

1

: cease

2

: entrust

3

a

: to yield without restraint or control : abandon

gave themselves over to laughter

b

: to set apart for a particular purpose or use

4

archaic : to pronounce incurable

intransitive verb

British : to cease an activity : stop

… told him to give over and let me alone …

—Brendan Behan

Synonyms of give over

• stop
• cease
• end
• halt
• quit
• leave off
• shut off
• cut off
• cut out
• have done with

Examples of give over in a Sentence

his wife suggested that he give over working such long hours if it was making him so unhappy

gave over his entire savings to an investor

Recent Examples on the Web

The next minute was given over to leaving viewers wondering why puppets rather than Jack White himself were squeezed into the mega-medley to deliver the biggest riff in rock or sportsdom, before BTS took over at the three-minute point. — Chris Willman, Variety, 19 July 2026

In the near absence of backstory and exegesis, the screen seemed given over to a gradual invasion by the uncanny. — Geoffrey O’Brien, The New York Review of Books, 14 July 2026

Beyond America's VetDogs, the Amazin' Mets Foundation has given over $22 million to nonprofits in their own backyard and beyond, wherever a Met steps to the plate or takes the mound. — Pat Mueller, USA Today, 25 June 2026

The waterfront, here and elsewhere, was gradually given over to industry. — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for give over

• carryover
• changeover
• crossover
• cutover
• flashover
• hangover
• holdover
• layover
• leftover
• makeover
• moreover
• passover