give away

To let someone have something without asking for money.

• I give away old clothes.
• The shop gave away free samples yesterday.
• Are you giving that bike away?

How to use it: give something away (She gave her old toys away.); give something away to someone (We gave the extra chairs away to a neighbour.)

Similar words: donate, give

Opposites: sell

Common phrases: give away something, give away books

To accidentally show or tell something that should remain secret.

• Don’t give away the ending.
• His nervous laugh gave him away.
• Did my face give away how worried I was?

How to use it: give something away (His smile gave the surprise away.); give someone/yourself away (Her accent gave her away.)

Similar words: reveal, expose, betray

Opposites: conceal

Common phrases: give away something, give away secrets, give away someone

To let someone else have power, control, or rights that you had.

• Don’t give away your rights.
• She gave away control of the company.
• Why would they give away so much power?

How to use it: give away something to someone (The founders gave away control to outside investors.)

Similar words: surrender, relinquish

Opposites: retain

Common phrases: give away control, give away rights

To formally present a bride to her partner during a wedding ceremony.

• Her father gave her away.
• She asked her brother to give her away at the wedding.
• Who will give the bride away?

How to use it: give someone away (Her mother gave her away at the wedding.)

Common phrases: give away someone, give away brides

To sell something for so little money that it seems almost free.

• At that price, you’re giving it away.
• They practically gave away their furniture for fifty euros.
• I won’t give away a valuable painting for so little.

How to use it: give something away for an amount (At ten pounds, you’re practically giving it away.)

Similar words: sell cheaply

Common phrases: give away something, give away stock

To compete against someone who has more weight, height, time, or another advantage.

• He gives away weight to his opponent.
• She won despite giving away five centimetres in height.
• The younger runner gave away ten seconds and still won.

How to use it: give away an amount to someone (Our team gives away several inches in height to theirs.)

Common phrases: give away weight, give away height