give up

Definition of give upnext
1
as in to relinquish
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
as in to surrender
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

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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 give up The Wall Street Journal, for example, reported in 2025 that faculty across the country are giving up on writing assignments, which students can produce with AI, and returning to in-class tests and examinations. Austin Sarat, Fortune, 23 June 2026 Did the Heat give up too much in the deal? Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026 Remember, there was really no point in giving up all these assets for Antetokounmpo just to finish sixth in the East. John Hollinger, New York Times, 23 June 2026 Mahle has given up at least four runs in six of his 11 big-league starts this season. Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for give up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for give up
Verb
  • Originally foreseen as the second Air Jordan of Michael’s post-player era, the Air Jordan 16 was designed by Wilson Smith III after Tinker Hatfield relinquished the reins.
    Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 18 June 2026
  • In 2023, ten years after relinquishing the kneeling figures, the Met gave a further 14 items from its collection back to Cambodia.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • With a lockout coming, fans who lack trust in the organization could abandon their fandom completely.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
  • After her father abandoned the family, her mother moved Blyth and her sister to New York City.
    Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Sydney briefly, and understandably, succumbed to the impulse to lash out, something that Carmy has done on more than one occasion while acting as head chef.
    Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • Ryan was pronounced dead at the scene, while Andrew succumbed to his injuries six days later.
    David Chiu, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Onboard, guests can indulge at eight different restaurants, ranging in style from Pan-Asian and French to poolside pizza and a steakhouse.
    Megan duBois, Southern Living, 25 June 2026
  • Chris is a freelance journalist who, when not writing, skywatching, playing games or building Lego, indulges his taste for horror, sci-fi and the post-apocalyptic.
    Chris McMullen, Space.com, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Called up from Triple-A Syracuse to start Friday’s game, Thornton surrendered three consecutive hits before recording an out.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
  • The Royals surrendered runs in abundance against the upstart White Sox lineup.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Yes, some people drank so much that they got fired and hit on random people and drove drunk—those people should obviously quit.
    Sarah Miller, New Yorker, 20 June 2026
  • The Face of the Band Leaves In 1985, strung out from the road and eager to focus on his solo career, Cetera quit Chicago.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • The study didn’t identify those schools, but Pennucci said colleges with higher graduation rates generally yielded higher earnings for their students.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • Arilje and its surroundings yield berries that are exported as far as the United States and Japan.
    ABC News, ABC News, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • To sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox, click here.
    Emily Carmela Nelson, Idaho Statesman, 22 June 2026
  • Daniel takes advantage of this momentary distraction to deliver a left hook, right punch to the gut, asking Lestat about his maker, Magnus (Damien Atkins).
    Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 22 June 2026

Cite this Entry

“Give up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/give%20up. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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