Synonyms of give up

give up

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relinquish
• surrender
• deliver
• render
• turn in
• yield
• hand over
• lay down
• turn over
• abandon
• cede
• cough up
• transfer
• resign
• commit
• forfeit
• release
• waive
• entrust
• shed
• consign
• part (with)
• discard
• desert
• renounce
• forsake
• abnegate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keep
• retain
• withhold

2

as in to abandon

to stop doing (something) permanently

I hope you won't give up playing the piano

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abandon
• quit
• have done (with)
• discontinue
• drop
• lay off (of)
• end
• finish
• pack (up or in)
• conclude
• hang it up
• cease
• shut off
• close
• throw up
• knock off
• leave off
• halt
• pause
• expire
• break up
• break off
• wrap up
• round (off or out)
• taper off
• terminate
• wind up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• carry on
• keep
• continue
• maintain
• keep up
• go
• run on
• hold on
• persist
• stay
• hang in
• hang on
• preserve
• resume
• renew
• begin
• reopen
• start
• persevere
• commence
• follow through (with)
• restart

3

as in to succumb

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

• succumb
• surrender
• give (in)
• submit
• fall
• capitulate
• knuckle under
• collapse
• bow
• cave (in)
• relinquish
• buckle
• hand over
• concede
• lose
• fold
• fail

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stand
• endure
• fight
• withstand
• resist
• overcome
• oppose
• win
• defy
• beat
• repel
• prevail
• triumph
• buck
• conquer

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• surrender
• yield
• indulge
• abandon
• deliver
• bask
• revel
• overdo
• roll
• wallow
• overindulge
• luxuriate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deny
• refrain (from)
• check
• abstain (from)
• restrain
• forgo
• eschew
• inhibit
• forbear

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of give up

Strange gets a Buffalo defense that gave up the fewest points to TEs this year. —Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026

To play the 18th-century religious leader Ann Lee, for instance, Amanda Seyfried gave up Botox, her anti-aging intervention of choice, for an entire year, in addition to eschewing makeup on set. —Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2026

In his final episode, McCoy gives up his career to ensure a tech baron with deep political ties faces justice. —Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026

But Simmons never gave up on her dream. —Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026