give way

1. Retreat or withdraw, as in The army gave way before the enemy . [Early 1500s]

2. Yield the right of way; also, relinquish ascendancy, as in The cars must give way to the parade , or The children were called inside as day gave way slowly to night . [Early 1700s]

3. Collapse, fail, break down, as in The ladder gave way , or His health gave way under the strain . [Mid-1600s]

4. Also, give way to . Yield to urging or demand, as in At the last minute he gave way and avoided a filibuster , or The owners gave way to their demands for a pay increase . [Mid-1700s]

5. Also, give way to . Abandon oneself, lose self-control, as in She gave way to hysteria , or Don't give way to despair . [First half of 1800s]

Example Sentences

But they quickly gave way to the angle grinders, which the thieves used to carve hand-sized holes in the glass.

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But as they flew faster and farther, it slowly gave way to towns and countryside.

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But as he arrives back in Washington, the gold-plated receptions abroad are giving way to a shuttered government and deepening voter anxiety about the economy.

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Leaving Bordeaux the next morning, we pass villages and vineyards, which give way to salt basins and oyster farms.

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Mendoza was more efficient than prolific, completing 15 of 22 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns with one interception before giving way to his younger brother near the end of the third quarter.

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Related Words

• abate 
• decline 
• decrease 
• depress 
• dilute 
• diminish 
• dwindle 
• halt 
• impair 
• lessen 
• lower 
• reduce 
• sap 
• soften 
• undermine 
• wane