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

see also:

give up the ghost

Synonyms of give up

• relinquish
• surrender
• deliver
• render
• turn in

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

McClanahan gave up four runs and eight hits in four innings but struck out seven. —Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026

Wrobleski’s early departure left the game in the hands of a Dodgers’ bullpen that has struggled in June and gave up a lead in Wednesday’s loss. —Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 12 June 2026

Before Hall's winning hit, Crotchfelt (7-3) hadn't given up a run in 11 1/3 innings over five appearances. —CBS News, 12 June 2026

The Defenders did tighten up against the run as the season went on, but DC gave up 58- and 59-yard rushing tallies to Robinson during the regular season. —Juan Carlos Blanco, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for give up

• buttercup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup

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