give over

verb

gave over; given over; giving over; gives over

transitive verb

1

: cease

2

: entrust

3

a

: to yield without restraint or control : abandon

gave themselves over to laughter

b

: to set apart for a particular purpose or use

4

archaic : to pronounce incurable

intransitive verb

British : to cease an activity : stop

told him to give over and let me alone

—Brendan Behan

Synonyms

• break
• break off
• break up
• can [slang]
• cease
• cut off
• cut out
• desist (from)
• discontinue
• drop
• end
• halt
• knock off
• lay off
• leave off
• pack (up or in)
• quit
• shut off
• stop

Examples of give over in a Sentence

his wife suggested that he give over working such long hours if it was making him so unhappy

gave over his entire savings to an investor

Recent Examples on the Web

Its northern half had been given over to mining ventures. —Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024

But why give over so much of the film to scenes of the three leads just touring through Europe in the lead-up to the attack? —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024

The note in the Jan. 18 robbery demanded that the teller give over $10,000 in $100 and $50 bills. —Doha Madani, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2024

Everyone just gave over their email and password and stuff. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1