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

Fields went to weed, and livestock wandered untended; the familiar rhythms of rural life gave way to an eerie void. — Jp Mangalindan, Time, 11 Sep. 2026

That gave way to sadness and the responsibility of consoling distraught students. — Usa Today Staff, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

That timeless joint quickly gave way to her 2000 Who Is Jill Scott? — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 10 Sep. 2026

Not long after boarding a city bus in central Vienna, the grand buildings and busy streets of Austria’s capital gave way to wooded hills and rows of grapevines. — Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2026

The Mexican interior designer has lived in the area since Girls was on HBO, watching as the neighborhood’s aughts grit gave way to luxury commercial appeal—the cost of living rising right along with it. — Sean Santiago, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2026

The defense had its moments but gave way when the game was on the line. — Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Before long, those casual first impressions gave way to deep friendship. — Dateline Nbc, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026

This gave way to the idea of their new app Anywear, which launched Tuesday. — Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026