Definition of give out

"Give out" is a phrasal verb that combines the verb "give" with the preposition "out." The origin of this phrase lies in the literal sense of distributing or handing out something, like giving out flyers or candy. The "out" signifies the action of moving something from a contained location to an external one. Over time, the phrase evolved to encompass other meanings like becoming exhausted or losing strength, reflecting the idea of a resource being depleted.