give ground

phrase

Definition of give groundnext
as in withdraw
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) There is wildlife in the area, so give ground if you see any when hiking.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of give ground Why would Sanders’ movement look at those facts, then give ground in Maine? — David Weigel, semafor.com, 8 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for give ground
  1. give way
  2. lose ground
Phrase
  • As dinner gave way to dancing, Vosk had one more surprise waiting for her new husband.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
  • For just a few minutes this August, daylight will give way to darkness.
    — Dea Jusufi, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of give way
Phrase
  • This is why the brands that ran one strong press cycle two years ago and then stopped are losing ground inside the engines right now, even when their products are still excellent.
    — Ronn Torossian, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Kotagal highlighted a 2024 report on the tech sector that showed that women had made virtually no gains between 2014 and 2022, and that workers under 40 years old had actually lost ground.
    — Alexandra Olson, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of lose ground

Browse Nearby Words

give birth to
give ground
give in
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Give ground.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/give%20ground. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of spindrift

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All