Word
giveaway
Phoneticsgive·away
US/ˈɡɪvəˌweɪ/
UK/ɡˈɪvɐwˌeɪ/
Definitions
01a free gift or contest
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. something that is given for free, often as a prize or to promote a business.
n. an item or service distributed without charge, typically for promotional purposes or as a prize in a competition.
“The radio station is having a ticket giveaway for the concert tonight.”
“The marketing department organised a massive giveaway of branded merchandise to generate buzz before the product launch.”
Usage
Often used in the context of marketing, social media contests, or radio promotions.
02a revealing sign
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a sign or detail that accidentally reveals the truth about something.
n. an unintentional revelation or an obvious indicator that betrays a secret or hidden fact.
“The nervous look on his face was a dead giveaway that he was lying.”
“While her voice remained steady, the slight tremor in her hands was a dead giveaway of her underlying anxiety.”
Usage
Frequently used with the adjective 'dead' to mean 'completely obvious'.
03free or very cheap
C1 · Advanced Informal
adj. describing something that is given for free or sold at a very low price.
adj. denoting a price that is extremely low or a product that is provided at no cost; typically used in an attributive position.
“They are selling the old furniture at giveaway prices just to get rid of it.”
“The company offered giveaway rates on their older software versions to encourage users to migrate to the new platform.”
Usage
Almost always used before a noun, especially 'price' or 'rate'.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Supermarket giant Woolworths says it won’t be running Ooshies giveaways more regularly despite the success of this year’s campaign.” “Announcing a new giveaway may go viral, but what about the details of the cuts to pay for it?” Etymology
Deverbal from give away.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. dead giveaway
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/giveaway