Phrasal verbs "give away" vs "give way to"

Differences between give away and give way to

Give away means to give something for free or to reveal a secret, while give way to means to yield or surrender to something or someone.

Meanings and Definitions: give away vs give way to

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Give away

  • 1Entrust your daughter to her husband through the marriage ceremony.

    He GAVE his daughter AWAY and told the groom to look after her.

  • 2Tell a secret, often unintentionally.

    She didn't GIVE anything AWAY about the party so it came as a complete surprise to me.

  • 3Distribute something for free.

    In this issue of the magazine, they are giving away a free DVD.

  • 4Give without asking for or expecting payment.

    He decided to GIVE his new album AWAY in a magazine.

  • 5Give an advantage to your opponent in a sport by making a mistake, playing badly, etc.

    They GAVE AWAY two goals in the first half.

  • 6Give an unwanted baby to people to bring up.

    She had to GIVE her baby AWAY as she couldn't afford to bring it up.

  • 7Betray, report to authorities.

    The gang GAVE him AWAY to the police.

  • 8Give a weight advantage to an opponent in boxing.

    He is GIVING AWAY thirty pounds to the challenger.

Give way to

  • 1Yield, surrender, retreat.

    Don't GIVE WAY TO your worst fears about this.

  • 2Relinquish position or ascendancy.

    Night GIVES WAY TO day.

  • 3Be replaced by something better, cheaper, more modern, etc.

    Cottage industries GAVE WAY TO the big companies.

  • 4Allow a vehicle to pass in front.

    You must GIVE WAY TO oncoming traffic.

  • 5Surrender to strong emotions.

    He GAVE WAY TO his anger and started screaming at them.

Usage Examples: give away, give way to in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

give away

Example

The radio station is giving away concert tickets to the first caller.

Example

She gives away her old clothes to charity.

give way to

Example

You should always give way to emergency vehicles on the road.

Example

The old tradition gives way to a new one.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Give away

To give something to a person or organization without expecting anything in return.

Example

She decided to donate her old clothes to the local charity instead of throwing them away.

To accidentally reveal or disclose a secret or information.

Example

He let slip that he was planning a surprise party for his wife, ruining the surprise.

To distribute or give something to a group of people.

Example

The teacher handed out the homework assignments to the students at the end of class.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Give way to

To yield or give up control or power to someone or something.

Example

The army had to surrender to the enemy after running out of ammunition.

To allow or create space for something or someone else.

Example

The new furniture had to be rearranged to make room for the piano in the living room.

To move out of the way or yield to someone or something else.

Example

The CEO decided to step aside for a younger executive with fresh ideas to lead the company.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “to”

Differences in give away vs give way to: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: give away or give way to?

In daily conversation, people use give away more often than give way to. This is because give away is used for more common situations such as giving away items or revealing secrets. Give way to is not used as much. It's mainly used when we're talking about yielding or surrendering to something or someone. So, while both phrases are used, give away is more common in everyday conversation.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of give away and give way to

Give away and give way to are informal phrases often used in casual conversations. They are suitable for everyday interactions with friends and family. In more formal settings like business or academic contexts, using alternative expressions can convey a more polished tone.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of give away and give way to

The tone of give away and give way to can differ based on context. Give away often carries a generous or secretive tone when related to giving or revealing, while give way to typically has a submissive or defeated tone, especially when referring to yielding or surrendering.

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