give up

verb

gave up; given up; giving up; gives up
Synonyms of give upnext

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:

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
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.
Jake Ourique gave up one hit in six innings for Gahr. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2026 Unfortunately, that is often not the best thing to do, and leads to him giving up possession through speculative shots or running into a tight spot when team-mates are in better positions. Cerys Jones, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026 In a world where the platforms these companies have created have become so ingrained in society and daily life, Galloway is also asking consumers to reflect upon giving up convenience for a higher purpose. Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026 Police said the teen gave up his items and one of the men fired shots, hitting him in the thigh. Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for give up

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of give up was in the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Give up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/give%20up. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

give up

verb
1
2
: to abandon (oneself) to a feeling, influence, or activity
3

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