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

• 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

She's also had to warn her sons not to give out their Social Security numbers when the fake Geico folks started calling them. —Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 8 July 2025

The Family Order is personally given out by the monarch without consultation with the government, traditionally after a female royal has been acting as a working member of the family for several years. —Stephanie Petit, People.com, 8 July 2025

This year, the office’s Third Annual Vets & Friends Barbecue gave out a little something extra to attendees, too: a 25-pound box of food courtesy of the Food Bank of NWI. —Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025

But officials hesitate to give out any additional information on any other missing people, shifting the tone of the mission. —ABC News, 6 July 2025

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