give up

verb

gave up; given up; giving up; gives up

transitive verb

1

: to yield control or possession of : surrender

forced to give up his job

2

: to desist from : abandon

refused to give up her efforts

3

: to declare incurable or insoluble

4

a

: to abandon (oneself) to a particular feeling, influence, or activity

gave himself up to despair

b

: to devote to a particular purpose or use

5

: to despair of seeing

we'd given you up

6

: to allow (a hit or run in baseball) while pitching

intransitive verb

: to cease doing or attempting something especially as an admission of defeat : quit

—often used with on

don't give up on the project

Phrases

give up the ghost

: to cease to live or function : die

Synonyms

• cede
• cough up
• deliver
• hand over
• lay down
• relinquish
• render
• surrender
• turn in
• turn over
• yield

Examples of give up in a Sentence

was in so much debt he had to give up his house and move into a cheaper apartment

I hope you won't give up playing the piano.

Recent Examples on the Web

Don’t give up on customers who left or overlook the moveable middle. —Michael Della Penna, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

The Chiefs rank 107th of 107 in terms of point differential – points scored minus points given up. —Harry Enten, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024

Generally, those who are 73 and have given up working must make withdrawals from traditional IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA and retirement plan accounts every year. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024

Letterman has no plans to give up his television gig. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

give up

verb

1

: surrender entry 1 sense 1

2

: to abandon (oneself) to a feeling, influence, or activity

3

: stop entry 1 sense 7a