# giveaway

/ˈɡɪvəˌweɪ/ (US) · /ɡˈɪvɐwˌeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/giveaway
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a free gift or contest

noun · CEFR B1

something that is given for free, often as a prize or to promote a business.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. a revealing sign

noun · CEFR B2

a sign or detail that accidentally reveals the truth about something.

For teachers: 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'.

### 3. free or very cheap

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

describing something that is given for free or sold at a very low price.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- She entered the online contest hoping to win the holiday giveaway.
- The company's aggressive giveaway strategy successfully boosted brand visibility among young consumers during the launch week.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.