Synonyms of give way

give way

phrase

1

as in collapse

to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure

That old chair is going to give way soon.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collapse
• go
• tumble
• give
• founder
• yield
• cave (in)
• buckle
• go out
• crumple
• die
• melt
• give out
• shatter
• crumble
• implode
• fail
• crash
• break
• burst
• snap
• flatten
• pop
• stall
• crack
• split
• break down
• smash
• melt down
• splinter
• deflate
• conk (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• swell
• inflate

2

as in withdraw

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

• withdraw
• retreat
• give ground
• retire
• pull out
• fall back
• drop back
• lose ground
• back away
• recede
• flee
• evacuate
• fly
• leave
• shrink
• recoil
• pull away
• flinch
• chicken (out)
• back down
• climb down
• go
• detach
• depart
• bow out
• abandon
• backtrack
• quit
• disengage
• vacate
• disentangle
• backpedal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advance
• face
• dare
• breast
• confront
• brave
• defy
• beard
• outbrave
• brazen

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of give way

The moment was captured on video by several reporters in attendance, as was the aftermath, where Kate laughed off the tension, while William covered his face in shock, eventually giving way to a smile. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 10 July 2026

As such, the likelihood that the ceasefire will give way to full-scale war remains high, in our opinion. — Anthony Wanis-St John, The Conversation, 10 July 2026

As morning rain gave way to a humid afternoon in Jammu, India, the city’s historic train station came to life with the familiar bustle of a South Asian transit hub. — Aakash Hassan, Christian Science Monitor, 8 July 2026

As Guatemala’s long period of military rule was giving way to civilian government and efforts to end the war, the bishop was made a representative for the National Reconciliation Commission in 1988. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026