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give out

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give out

 

1. to wear out and stop; to quit operating. My old bicycle finally gave out. I think that your shoes are about ready to give out.

2. to be depleted. The paper napkins gave out, and we had to use paper towels. The eggs gave out, and we had to eat cereal for breakfast for the rest of the camping trip.

See also: give, out

give something out

 

1. Lit. to distribute something; to pass something out. The teacher gave the test papers out. The teacher gave out the papers.

2. Fig. to make something known to the public. When will you give the announcement out? The president gave out the news that the hostages had been released.

See also: give, out

give out

1. to be completely used or finished I'd lend you my calculator, but the battery gave out.

2. to stop working Is it worth it to keep running until your knees give out? Something in the motor gave out.

See also: give, out

give out

1. Allow to be known, declare publicly, as in They gave out that she was ill. [Mid-1300s]

2. Send forth, emit, as in The machine gave out a steady buzzing. [Mid-1400s]

3. Distribute, as in They gave out surplus food every week. [c. 1700]

4. Stop functioning, fail; also, become exhausted or used up. For example, The motor gave out suddenly, or My strength simply gave out. [First half of 1500s]

See also: give, out

give out

v.

1. To allow or cause something to be known; declare something publicly: The professor gave out the bad news.

2. To emit or radiate something; give something off: My car engine gave out a steady buzzing.

3. To distribute something: The homeless shelter gave out food and blankets. The teacher gave the homework assignment out.

4. To stop functioning; fail: The dishwasher finally gave out last week.

5. To become used up or exhausted; run out: Their determination finally gave out.

See also: give, out