give out

present singular third person gives out · participle present giving out · past gave out · participle past given out

1. transitiveTo utter, publish; to announce, proclaim, report.

   So soon as I hear that such or such a man gives himself out for a philosopher, I conclude that, like the dyspeptic old woman, he must have “broken his digester.”

   1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter X, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC

   2 more examples

   The best news is that we have safely found Our king and company: the next, our ship,— Which but three glasses since we gave out split,— Is tight and yare, and bravely rigg'd as when We first put out to sea.

   1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

   Simon is found in the book of Acts. The bible tells us that he gave out that he was some great one, that he was the great power of God. This is a characteristic of both the circumcision and the spirit of Antichrist.

   2010, Don Preece, Revelation Of The Antichrist: Who He Is And What He Does

   1. transitiveTo announce (a hymn) to be sung; to read out (the words) for the congregation to sing.
2. transitiveTo send forth, emit; to cause to be sent forth.
   1. transitiveTo put forth, utter (prayers).
3. transitiveTo issue; to distribute.

   Can you help me to give out the new books to the class, please?

4. To cease functioning in some way.
   1. intransitiveTo desist.
   2. intransitiveTo desist through exhaustion of strength or patience.
   3. intransitiveusuallya limb; a machine; a limb; a machineTo break down, get out of order, fail.

      So your old car finally gave out, did it?

   4. intransitiveTo run short, come to an end.
5. IrelandUKidiomaticintransitiveTo complain, sulk, chastise.

   He was always giving out about the weather.

   1 more example

   You shouldn't give out to your brother like that.

6. intransitiveslangTo pretend or act as if something is true.

   I gave out that I was at home, but they didn't ask for an alibi.

7. intransitiveslangAfrican-American VernacularTo express oneself intensely emotionally, either by talking or in a musical performance.

   He's been giving out for hours.

8. transitiveball gamesTo deem (a player) to be out.

   The umpire controversially gave him out.