Synonyms of gave way

gave way

phrase

past tense of give way

1

as in collapsed

to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure

That old chair is going to give way soon.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collapsed
• went out
• went
• crumpled
• tumbled
• gave
• yielded
• died
• buckled
• melted
• shattered
• caved (in)
• foundered
• gave out
• crumbled
• imploded
• failed
• crashed
• flattened
• burst
• broke
• snapped
• popped
• stalled
• broke down
• smashed
• split
• cracked
• melted down
• deflated
• splintered
• conked (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rose
• inflated
• swelled

2

as in withdrew

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)

They were urged to give way but chose to stand their ground.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• withdrew
• retreated
• retired
• pulled out
• fell back
• dropped back
• lost ground
• gave ground
• backed away
• fled
• receded
• evacuated
• flew
• left
• pulled away
• recoiled
• flinched
• detached
• shrank
• climbed down
• departed
• went
• bowed out
• abandoned
• vacated
• disengaged
• backed down
• quit
• chickened (out)
• backtracked
• backpedaled
• disentangled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advanced
• confronted
• dared
• faced
• bearded
• defied
• braved
• breasted
• outbraved
• brazened

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gave way

But Depp’s decades of Hollywood success eventually gave way to a turbulent period in his career. — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Same Movie, Scarier Villain The earlier waves of shadow IT gave way to shadow applications. — Adrian Carr, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

His experimental and ambient work gradually gave way to dance and, almost naturally, to film. — Ben Croll, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

If there was any rust on the outfit from nine years of inactivity, it was knocked off the instant the song’s trademark chiming riff gave way to the thwack of Lynch’s snare drum, bringing the band to life. — Adam Gold, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026

For 718 days, as one season gave way to the next and search after search turned up empty, Nancy Tucker remained missing. — Brady Dennis, Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2026

That change means the transition to Narnia will mark the same kind of transition people felt in real life as the 1950s gave way to the ’70s. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026

The accords failed to stop the war, creating a frozen conflict with an ever-rising human toll that ultimately gave way to a full-scale invasion. — David Brennan, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

The four straight winning seasons from 2004 to ‘07 gave way to a 12-year stretch in which the Padres had one winning season (2010). — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026