give way
giv WAY
/ɡɪv weɪ/
To yield to someone else; to collapse under pressure; or to be replaced by something.
Has both a physical meaning (a bridge giving way) and a social one (yielding in an argument).
The story behind the word. From Old English 'weg'. To 'give way' was originally a nautical term where a ship would 'give' its path to another.
Word relationships
- yield: Yield is the more formal and common term in traffic and legal contexts.
- collapse: Collapse is purely physical and more sudden than giving way.
- resist: Resist is to stand firm against pressure.
- hold: To hold is to remain intact under weight.
Commonly confused with
- give in: 'Give in' implies surrendering in a fight; 'give way' is more about yielding or breaking.
Collocations
- give way to pressure
- give way to tears
- give way to a new era
Example sentences
- "The old wooden bridge began to give way under the weight of the truck." A physical collapse.
- "In traffic, you must give way to pedestrians at the crosswalk." A social yield.
Memory hook
You are 'giving' your 'way' (path) to someone else. Give up the path, give way.
When not to use
Don't use 'give way' when you simply mean 'give a path'; it implies yielding or breaking.
Fun facts
- In British English, 'give way' is the standard traffic sign where Americans would see 'yield'.
Related words
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