phrasal verb · neutral

give off

UK/ɡɪv ɒf/US/ɡɪv ɔːf/give·OFF

speakingtask2

to emit (a smell, light, heat, etc.)

Examples

The old fridge was giving off a strange smell.

That lamp gives off a warm, soft light.

The chemistry experiment gave off toxic fumes, so we evacuated the lab.

Band 8 sentence

During the experiment the apparatus gave off faint traces of gas, which we immediately ventilated.

Collocations

  • give off a smell / give off heat / give off light

Word family

give off vgave off v (past)giving off v-ing

Common mistakes

The plant gave out a terrible smell.The plant gave off a terrible smell.

This perfume gives out nice smell.This perfume gives off a nice smell.

Say it for a higher band

5smell6emit7+give off

Synonyms

emit

release

Easily confused

emit

Factories emit large quantities of carbon dioxide.

give out

The battery gave out after two hours.

Related words

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In give …

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