phrasal
1.
a. : to retreat before an advancing force
our troops … gave way on the right — William Tennant
b. archaic : to make way : clear the way
respect induced passengers to give way to the father and daughter — Sir Walter Scott
c. : to yield the right of way
if it is your duty to give way, never leave your alteration of course until the last moment — Peter Heaton
drivers give way to traffic coming in on the right — Meet New Zealand
2.
a. archaic : to allow free scope, opportunity, or liberty of action
they who through weakness gave way to the ill designs of bad men — Edmund Burke
b. : to yield oneself without check, restraint, or control : abandon oneself
she horrified the young man by giving way to tears, publicly — F.A.Swinnerton
c. : to lose control of oneself
courage kept her from quite giving way — Edna Lyall
3.
a. : to yield to or as if to physical force or pressure : break down : collapse , fail
bridges … can give way under the pounding hooves of a herd of bawling, jostling longhorns — S.E.Fletcher
his fragile health gave way under the stress of study — H.W.Wiley
b. : to yield under entreaty or insistence : concede
argued until, with a shrug of his shoulders, he gave way — Francis King
4. : to yield place
the desert landscape … had given way everywhere to abundant green vegetation — Rex Moorfoot
discussion of specific issues gave way to very broad generalities — Walter Goodman
5. : to begin to row or to row with increased energy
the coxswain ordered the crew to give way
6. : to decline in value — used of stocks