GIVE-UP Synonyms: 125 Similar and Opposite Words

give up

verb

Definition of give up

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to abandon

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 If lettuce is not the source — or not the only one — people who give up salad may feel protected while still buying the food that is actually contaminated. — Katrine Wallace, STAT, 15 July 2026 The event was perfect — especially because prior to meeting and falling for Greenstein, 63, Porizkova, 61, was all but ready to give up on love. — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026 The experienced Rodri and Fabian Ruiz comfortably won the midfield battle, supported by Dani Olmo, who would neatly stitch play together while offering his own defensive bite when Spain did give up possession. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 15 July 2026 Holmes reportedly was concerned that Foxx had no intention of giving up his flirtatious, bachelor ways. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for give up

Recent Examples of Synonyms for give up

Verb

Going down the cap-room road, however, would require Atlanta to relinquish Dort, CJ McCollum and Jock Landale after the season.

— John Hollinger, New York Times, 20 July 2026
In 2021, the unnamed collector who bought them voluntarily relinquished for repatriation nearly three dozen Cambodian and Southeast Asian antiquities purchased from Latchford between 2003 and 2007.

— Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 16 July 2026

Definition of relinquish

Verb

Burke’s phone was the last device connected to the Tesla before it was abandoned, the detective said, and surveillance footage showed him near the vehicle.

— Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 22 July 2026
But the threat alone has persuaded some ships to abandon their plans to exit the Red Sea heading south.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Definition of abandon

Verb

Lee indulges that emotional ambiguity, the way the pedal steel can blur the distinction between a frown and a smile.

— Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
That’s what happens when a party and its voters stop seriously competing and instead indulge their passions and fever dreams.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of indulge

Verb

The stock rocketed nearly 70% in five weeks, peaking above $1,250 in late June, only to surrender 35% of that value in the 22 days since.

— Nishant Pant, CNBC, 21 July 2026
Last month, Said Abdullahi Ereg, a former Minneapolis grocery and deli owner wanted on federal charges since 2024, surrendered to federal authorities after being added to the list.

— Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of surrender

Verb

John Healey quit his former post last month after accusing then-premier Keir Starmer of endangering Britain by not committing to spending 3% of GDP on defense by 2030.

— J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 20 July 2026
After the 2023 complaint, Benton wasn’t interviewed by House leadership for an astounding three months, by which point the staffer had already quit her job, according to Tribune reporting.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026

Definition of quit

Verb

The comptroller’s report last year estimated that the subsidy-eligible projects underway would yield more than 15,000 rental units, and more have entered the pipeline since then.

— Andrew Rice, Curbed, 23 July 2026
Weeks after an 18-year-old’s body was found floating face-down near an island off the Mississippi coast, an independent autopsy requested by his family has yielded no solid answers about what led to his death.

— Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Definition of yield

Verb

Bloom also delivered Wilyer Abreu to the Red Sox in a 2022 deadline deal with the Houston Astros for popular catcher Christian Vázquez.

— Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Joanne Goh, founder and president of MIFFest, delivered the welcome address alongside this year’s festival ambassadors, Bront Palarae, Daiyan Trisha and Jack Tan.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 July 2026