give up
verb
gave up; given up; giving up; gives up
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
: to cease doing or attempting something especially as an admission of defeat : quit
—often used with on
don't give up on the project
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
The Vikings gave up a fifth-rounder in 2026 and a fourth-rounder in ’27.
—
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Gusto gave up three home runs in the first three innings as the Marlins lost to the Braves 12-1 at loanDepot park, dropping their seventh consecutive series since sweeping the Yankees at home to start this month.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
But Honda never fully gave up on the idea, and a second iteration, which featured a more aggressive design, hybrid power, and all-wheel drive, was launched in 2016.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025
Perez didn’t give up — getting through the COVID-19 pandemic, making paella out of her home for family and friends, while raising her children as a single mother and working as a real estate agent.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for give up
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.
Alec Lewis, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Gusto gave up three home runs in the first three innings as the Marlins lost to the Braves 12-1 at loanDepot park, dropping their seventh consecutive series since sweeping the Yankees at home to start this month.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2025
But Honda never fully gave up on the idea, and a second iteration, which featured a more aggressive design, hybrid power, and all-wheel drive, was launched in 2016.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025
Perez didn’t give up — getting through the COVID-19 pandemic, making paella out of her home for family and friends, while raising her children as a single mother and working as a real estate agent.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for give up
Cite this Entry
“Give up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/give%20up. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share