give up

1 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> Synonyms cede, cough up, deliver, surrender, hand over, lay down, relinquish, render, turn in, turn over, yieldRelated Words commit, consign, entrust (also intrust), transfer; forfeit, release, waive; abnegate, renounce, resign; abandon, desert, discard, forsake, part (with), shedNear Antonyms keep, retain, withhold

2 to stop doing (something) permanently <I hope you won't give up playing the piano> Synonyms abandon, discontinue, drop, quit, knock off, lay off (of), pack (up or in)Related Words break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, end, expire, finish, halt, leave off, shut off; pause, taper off; throw up; round (off or out), terminate, wind up, wrap upNear Antonyms go, run on; hang in, hang on, hold on, persevere, persist; follow through (with); renew, reopen, restart, resume; preserve, stay; begin, commence, startAntonyms carry on, continue, keep, keep up, maintain

3 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> Synonyms capitulate, fall, knuckle under, submit, succumb, surrenderRelated Words bow, buckle, cave (in), collapse, give (in); hand over, relinquish; lose; concede, fail, foldNear Antonyms buck, defy, fight, oppose, repel, resist, withstand; beat, overcome, win; conquer, prevail, triumphAntonyms endure, stand

4 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> Synonyms deliver, abandon, indulge, surrender, yieldRelated Words overdo, overindulge; bask, luxuriate, revel, roll, wallowNear Antonyms abstain (from), eschew, forbear, forgo (also forego), refrain (from); check, inhibit, restrainAntonyms deny