give away
Britishverb
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to donate or bestow as a gift, prize, etc
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to sell very cheaply
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to reveal or betray (esp in the phrases give the game or show away )
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to fail to use (an opportunity) through folly or neglect
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to present (a bride) formally to her husband in a marriage ceremony
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informal to give up or abandon (something)
noun
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a betrayal or disclosure of information, esp when unintentional
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something given, esp with articles on sale, at little or no charge to increase sales, attract publicity, etc
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journalism another name for freesheet
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a radio or television programme characterized by the award of money and prizes
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(modifier)
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very cheap (esp in the phrase giveaway prices )
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free of charge
a giveaway property magazine
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Make a gift of, bestow, as in I decided to give away all my plants . [c. 1400]
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Present a bride to the groom in a marriage ceremony, as in Her father gave Karen away . [c. 1700]
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Reveal or make something known, often unintentionally; also, betray or expose someone. For example, She gave away her true feelings , or He gave away his accomplices . This idiom is sometimes put as give oneself away , as in If you don't want the family to know about your gambling, don't give yourself away by spending your winnings . [Late 1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Home captain Pieter-Steph du Toit thought he had scored but referee Andrew Brace spotted obstruction but Wales continued to give away scrum penalties.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
Buffett and Gates have been close friends for decades and launched the Giving Pledge with Melinda French Gates, aimed at getting the world’s richest people to give away their wealth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Warren Buffett and Bill Gates made headlines decades ago when two of the world’s richest men pledged to give away the bulk of their fortunes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Not to give away our strategy, but we want to draw him in, because then he’s not hurting anybody else for a few minutes or spreading more ridiculous lies about innocent people.
From Slate ● Jul. 12, 2026
“Don’t you need it?” asked Ralph, unable to believe that anyone would give away such a car.
From "Ralph S. Mouse" by Beverly Cleary
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
