gives up (to)

Definition of gives up (to)next
present tense third-person singular of give up (to)
as in dedicates
to keep or intend for a special purpose unfortunately, when he was in college, weekends were largely given up to binge drinking

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gives up (to)
Verb
  • Sakai, now 71, dedicates Sundays to making quarts of homemade dashi, or broth, for her household of two, keeping them on standby for breakfast and other meals.
    The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The mix seemed appropriate to higher education, which, after all, dedicates itself both to the very traditional act of conserving knowledge and to producing and disseminating fresh discoveries.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Illinois devotes significant resources to recruiting overseas to bring in their large international contingent — including Croatian twin centers Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivišić and freshman forward David Mirković.
    Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
  • McGrath devotes a whole chapter to lunch.
    Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Change one thing that reduces friction or saves time, then build from there.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Martini lovers will be in their element—American Bar’s riff on the glassy concoction comes with a separate borrower-sized pouring jar and a generous top-up portion that saves ordering a second any time soon.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Gives up (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gives%20up%20%28to%29. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.

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