give up on (someone or something)

idiom

: to stop trying to improve the condition of (someone)

He has gotten in trouble many times, but his parents have never given up on him.

Please don't give up on me. I promise I'll do better.

: to stop having hope of seeing (someone)

We'd given up on you hours ago!

: to stop trying to do or achieve (something)

They have given up on their plan to build a new factory.

She hasn't given up on trying to convince her husband to buy a new car.

Examples of give up on (someone or something) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

This becomes a wink-wink of an excuse to give up on the resolution, rather than acknowledging that even a partial attainment is worthy. —

Lance Eliot, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 Why did Sean Payton give up on the run game so quickly? —

Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2024 Yvette Nicole Brown is urging fans to never give up on finding love. —

Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024 In this climate, labels sometimes give up on songs that aren’t immediately greeted rapturously by listeners. —

Elias Leight, Billboard, 16 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for give up on (someone or something)

Dictionary Entries Near give up on (someone or something)

give up

give up on (someone or something)

give vent to

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Give up on (someone or something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/give%20up%20on%20%28someone%20or%20something%29. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Copy Citation