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 restCharles 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
2
: to become exhausted : collapse

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Oliver Glasner cannot be accused of giving out inconsistent messages. Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025 Pennsylvania Pennsylvania’s State Board of Pharmacy allowed pharmacists to give out the COVID-19 shot based on recommendations from authorities other than the ACIP. Connor Greene, Time, 15 Sep. 2025 Referee Drew Fischer did not give out a card, nor did VAR intervene. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025 But if 9-year-olds in the summer of 1985 could give out trophies, some surely would have gone to the Hawke-Phoenix collab Explorers! Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for give out

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of give out was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Give out.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/give%20out. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

give out

verb
1
2
: to become exhausted : collapse
3
4
: to pass out : issue
give out the new books

More from Merriam-Webster on give out

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