give up

give up

verb

Definition of GIVE 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>

— give up the ghost

: to cease to live or function : die

Examples of GIVE UP

1. <was in so much debt he had to give up his house and move into a cheaper apartment>
2. <I hope you won't give up playing the piano.>

First Known Use of GIVE UP

13th century

Related to GIVE UP

Synonyms: cede, cough up, deliver, surrender, hand over, lay down, relinquish, render, turn in, turn over, yield

Antonyms: carry on, continue, keep, keep up, maintain

Related Words: commit, consign, entrust (also intrust), transfer; forfeit, release, waive; abnegate, renounce, resign; abandon, desert, discard, forsake, part (with), shed

Near Antonyms: keep, retain, withhold

see all synonyms and antonyms

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