give off
B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To send out a smell, light, or feeling from something.
Literal meaning: To give something, sending it away from a source — largely transparent for physical emissions.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To produce and release a physical emission such as a smell, heat, light, or gas.
"The chemical reaction gave off a strong smell of sulfur."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To project a particular impression, feeling, or atmosphere.
"He gives off a very calm and reassuring energy when he speaks."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Very commonly used with smells, heat, light, gases, and radiation. Also widely used informally to describe the impression or 'vibe' someone or something gives: 'She gives off a confident vibe.' This informal 'vibe' usage is especially common in social media and younger speakers' language.
Commonly used with
smell heat light radiation vibe odor
Forms
Base
give off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
gives off
he/she/it
Past simple
gave off
yesterday
Past participle
given off
have + pp
-ing form
giving off
continuous
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