give way

phrase

1

a

: retreat

b

: to yield the right of way

2

: to yield oneself without restraint or control

3

a

: to yield to or as if to physical stress

The roof gave way under heavy snow.

b

: to yield to entreaty or insistence

After several hours of debate, the opposition finally gave way.

4

: to yield place

Farmland has given way to shopping malls.

5

: to begin to row

Examples of give way in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During the holidays in particular, shoppers are open to trying something new as routines give way to discovery. — Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

The China shock gave way to new industries and enormous wealth creation. — Jared Franz, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

But as Hamilton’s economic interventionism gave way to Thomas Jefferson’s laissez-faire approach, the bounty programs faded away. — David S. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026

Across much of North America, clear-sky coverage drops rapidly as October gives way to November, beginning a prolonged period of widespread cloud cover. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for give way

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway