give out

Verb

give out (third-person singular simple present gives out, present participle giving out, simple past gave out, past participle given out)

1. (transitive) To utter, publish; to announce, proclaim, report.
   • 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...
   • 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
   1. (transitive) To announce (a hymn) to be sung; to read out (the words) for the congregation to sing.
2. (transitive) To send forth, emit; to cause to be sent forth.
   1. (transitive) To put forth, utter (prayers).
3. (transitive) To issue; to distribute.
   • Can you help me to give out the new books to the class, please?
4. (intransitive) To desist.
5. (intransitive) To desist through exhaustion of strength or patience.
6. (intransitive, usually, a limb, a machine) To break down, get out of order, fail.
   • So your old car finally gave out, did it?
7. (intransitive) To run short, come to an end.
8. (Ireland, UK, idiomatic, intransitive) To complain, sulk, chastise.
   • You shouldn't give out to your brother like that.
   • He was always giving out about the weather.
9. (intransitive, slang) To pretend or act as if something is true.
   • I gave out that I was at home, but they didn't ask for an alibi.
10. (intransitive, slang, African-American Vernacular) To express oneself intensely emotionally, either by talking or in a musical performance.
    • He's been giving out for hours.
11. (transitive) To deem (a player) to be out.
    • The umpire controversially gave him out.