give out
To hand things to many people, or to stop working or run out of energy.
Meanings
To distribute something to several people.
"The volunteers gave out sandwiches and coffee to the homeless."
To stop working, functioning, or having enough energy.
"After the marathon, his legs gave out and he collapsed on the finish line."
To come to an end or be used up entirely.
"The food supplies gave out after three days in the wilderness."
To emit a sound, smell, or signal.
"The alarm gave out a high-pitched beep every thirty seconds."
Multiple senses make this a very useful and frequently encountered phrasal verb. The 'distribute' sense is transitive and separable. The 'stop working' sense (engines, legs, voice) is intransitive. Widely used in both British and American English.
Commonly used with
Forms
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