give out

verb

gave out; given out; giving out; gives out

transitive verb

1

a

: declare, publish

… giving out that the doctor … required a few days of complete rest.

—Charles Dickens

b

: to read aloud the words of (a hymn or psalm) for congregational singing

2

: emit

gave out a constant hum

3

: issue

gave out new uniforms

intransitive verb

1

: break down, fail

2

: to become exhausted : collapse

Synonyms of give out

• announce
• publish
• declare
• run with
• proclaim
• post
• advertise

Examples of give out in a Sentence

that's information that I'm not prepared to give out

this heater gives out a funny smell sometimes

Recent Examples on the Web

There were no questions about how a scholarship set aside for a person of color hasn’t been given out in years, or why four of five professors approved for and then abruptly denied tenure were minorities. —Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026

There’s nothing worse (or scarier) than a bed frame giving out on you. —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2026

Mercedes Woods describes his wild white hair and unlaced shoes; Shirl Gadson remembers his frequent walks and talks with her mother, Violet; Henry Pannell recalls Einstein giving out nickels to the neighborhood kids before sitting with Henry’s grandmother on the porch. —Joshua Bennett, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026

There were no questions about how a scholarship set aside for a person of color hasn’t been given out in years, or why four of five professors approved for and then abruptly denied tenure were minorities. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for give out

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout

Kids Definition

give out

verb

1

: emit sense 1

2

: to become exhausted : collapse

3

: break down sense 1

4

: to pass out : issue

give out the new books