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

Phrases

give up the ghost

: to cease to live or function : die

Synonyms

• relinquish
• surrender
• render
• deliver
• 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

Last year, the Panthers gave up the most rushing yards in a season since 1980. —Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025

Japan’s Nikkei 225 also hit a fresh high Tuesday, breaking the 44,000 level, but gave up gains later in the session. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025

After giving up 21 points in the fourth quarter, the Bears ended up losing to the Vikings by a final score of 27-24. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025

Cecconi would give up a hit in the eighth but not a run, and the Guardians moved ahead of the Royals in a playoff chase that is running low on time. —Sam McDowell 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025

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