GAVE UP Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

gave up

verb

past tense of give up

as in relinquished

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 & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in abandoned

to stop doing (something) permanently I hope you won't give up playing the piano

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in succumbed

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 & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in indulged

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 & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of gave up Rangers starter Cal Quantrill gave up one run and four hits in five innings, striking out six and walking three. — CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 Nuñez gave up a home run to Mike Yastrzemski in the seventh, and Austin Riley followed with one of his own, ultimately dooming the Mets. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 The Bears went from 25th in the league in rushing to third last season and gave up just 24 sacks after allowing a league-worst 68 the season before. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 Astros right-hander Peter Lambert gave up two runs and seven hits in five innings, striking out six and walking one. — Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 Schweikert gave up his bid for reelection in order to pursue the governor’s race and lost to Biggs on Tuesday. — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 22 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gave up

Verb

Rangel, who relinquished his position as chair of the House Ways and Means Committee amid the inquiry, was eventually censured, the first time a congressman had been thusly reprimanded in public in almost three decades.

— Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
Nick Aldis relinquished his duties as SmackDown General Manager to challenge Gunther to a grudge match amid months of tension with Gunther that inevitably became physical.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of relinquished

Verb

There’s no need to theorize about what happened here because the obvious answer is Bret Easton Ellis signed off on the first two episodes and then abandoned the adaptation.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Back in 2014, a Ukraine defense ministry spokesperson told CNN that the Zaporizhzhia had been taken over and placed under the flag of the Russian naval fleet when its commander abandoned it.

— Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of abandoned

Verb

In Salzburg, Dudamel indulged the Vienna Philharmonic’s incomparable lushness, those plush strings, glowing winds, golden brass, voluminous timpani.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026
Night Seven indulged Bon Jovi’s love for sports, with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and tennis legend John McEnroe mingling backstage.

— Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2026

Definition of indulged

Verb

The return to form is all the more stunning given that book sales overall are barely rising, and Amazon, which nearly felled Barnes & Noble in the 2010s, is still a threat.

— Phil Wahba, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Each measures 500 square feet, with its walls, ceilings, and timber beams made from pine trees felled on site.

— Madeline Bilis, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026