as in surrender
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1
as in relinquishing
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
was in so much debt he had to give up his house and move into a cheaper apartment
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2
as in abandoning
to stop doing (something) permanently
I hope you won't give up playing the piano
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3
as in succumbing
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces
with the prospect of a renewed enemy attack, the regiment decided to simply give up
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4
as in indulging
to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly
even in the darkest days of her troubled marriage, she refused to give herself up to feelings of utter hopelessness
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of giving up
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
After being turned back earlier this month in their latest attempt to overturn California’s rooftop solar rules, three environmental groups aren’t giving up.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, the more certain upside of not making a blockbuster trade is not giving up serious resources.
—Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
No one right now is giving up at all.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
The deal meant Trident was giving up half of its income when hurricane season was already over.
—Scott Pham, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
That said, there were some statement results to suggest that no one is giving up just yet.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Fred agreed at the end of the season to restructure that big contract, taking a $250,000 pay cut, giving up a $500,000 bonus and dropping his buyout by $4 million.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
The heyday of the ’90s mallrat might be over, but Gen Z isn’t giving up on brick-and-mortar just yet.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
Alcantara threw seven strong innings, giving up just one unearned run while striking out five on just 73 pitches.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
After being turned back earlier this month in their latest attempt to overturn California’s rooftop solar rules, three environmental groups aren’t giving up.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, the more certain upside of not making a blockbuster trade is not giving up serious resources.
—Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
No one right now is giving up at all.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
The deal meant Trident was giving up half of its income when hurricane season was already over.
—Scott Pham, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
That said, there were some statement results to suggest that no one is giving up just yet.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Fred agreed at the end of the season to restructure that big contract, taking a $250,000 pay cut, giving up a $500,000 bonus and dropping his buyout by $4 million.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
The heyday of the ’90s mallrat might be over, but Gen Z isn’t giving up on brick-and-mortar just yet.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for giving up
Noun
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Charlie, although more sympathetic, is left reeling, and Pattinson, always at his best when his matinée-idol looks surrender to warpings of fear and anxiety, conducts a virtuosic symphony of shifting moods.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
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And those who find Georgia’s gun laws too permissive say installing weapon detectors everywhere is a form of surrender, accepting that society will be awash in guns and violence.—
Jeff Amy,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The United States has offered Iran a 15-point proposal for a ceasefire that includes it relinquishing control of the strait, but at the same time has ordered thousands more troops to the region — possibly in preparation for a military attempt to wrest the waterway from Iran.—
David Rising,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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With concerns growing about a global energy crisis, an Iranian official said Tehran had no intention of relinquishing its tight grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Californians are abandoning the Golden State, chiefly because of high housing costs and finding better luck at becoming homeowners elsewhere, a new study found.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Safari shut down in 1978 after passengers kept abandoning their Jeeps mid-trip.—
Abbey Briscoe,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And the bumbling nature of Lesgate, with Jones playing the internal conflicts sharply, comes with succumbing to the horrid nature of what money can bring.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
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In a dramatic departure from the novels, Kay and Dorothy’s father died in an armed robbery, rather than succumbing to leukemia.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The elder Junod gave off mixed messages, abusing his long-suffering wife while indulging his gifted son.—
Hamilton Cain,
Time,
3 Mar. 2026
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There’s a conversation for Nebraska worth indulging this spring.—
Mitch Sherman,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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So far this year, Paws Chicago has seen a 28% increase in pet relinquishments.—
Ash-har Quraishi,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
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In response, Moreno signed a voluntary relinquishment of Spa Bar’s massage establishment license in July.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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This demo showed off a graphics-rendering task (an aquarium full of fish, whose frame rates and swimming action were directly affected by the availability of system resources).—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
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The game was about rendering a person with a limited palette of supplies.—
Eric Boodman,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Tyler Unter threw five scoreless innings before surrendering a pair of runs in the sixth for Santa Margarita.—
Michael Huntley,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
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Murakami’s two walks came against Jacob Misiorowski, who struck out 11 while surrendering one run — a leadoff home run by Chase Meidroth — on two hits in five innings.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Giving up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/giving%20up. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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