Give up Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Published on October 17, 2025
Give up refers to cease making an effort; to stop trying to accomplish something. e.g., After several failed attempts, he decided to give up on the puzzle.
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Give up Definitions
To admit defeat or failure.
After hours of debate, he gave up and agreed with the other side.
To reveal information or secrets.
Under pressure, the spy gave up classified information.
To stop performing an action or activity.
Due to the rain, the team gave up on their outdoor practice.
To abandon a habit or way of life.
He finally gave up smoking after many years.
To relinquish responsibility or involvement.
The manager had to give up some duties due to overwork.
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To stop trying to do or achieve something, typically due to difficulty.
She decided to give up her dream of becoming an actress due to financial constraints.
To surrender or yield control or possession of something.
The soldiers were ordered to give up their weapons.
To devote or dedicate oneself entirely to a cause or activity.
He gave up his life to humanitarian work.
To cease caring or maintaining interest.
She gave up on trying to please everyone.
To allow others to use or have something.
She gave up her seat to an elderly passenger on the bus.
Give up Snonyms
Abandon
To leave behind or give up completely.
The project was abandoned due to lack of funding.
Forsake
To renounce or turn away from entirely.
He forsook his bad habits for a healthier lifestyle.
Surrender
To yield to control by another; to give up possession or control.
The general ordered his troops to surrender their positions.
Quit
To stop, cease, or discontinue an action or activity.
He quit his job because he was unhappy.
Concede
To acknowledge defeat in a contest or conflict.
The candidate conceded the election after the final vote count.
Resign
To give up a job or position voluntarily.
She resigned from her position to pursue further studies.
Withdraw
To remove oneself from participation.
Due to injury, the player had to withdraw from the competition.
Relinquish
To voluntarily cease to keep or claim; to give up.
He relinquished his claim to the throne.
Yield
To give way to arguments, demands, or pressure.
The city council yielded to public pressure and revised their plans.
Discontinue
To end an activity or practice formally.
The manufacturer discontinued the product after declining sales.
Give up Idioms & Phrases
Never give up
To continue trying despite difficulties.
His motto was to never give up, no matter how hard the task.
Give up the ghost
To stop working; to cease functioning.
His old laptop finally gave up the ghost.
Give up the fight
To cease fighting or struggling; to surrender.
After a lengthy legal battle, they gave up the fight.
Give up to
To devote entirely to a specific purpose or use.
He gave up his afternoon to help us move.
Give up one’s rights
To relinquish legal claims or entitlements.
He gave up his rights to the property during the divorce.
Give up for lost
To consider something as lost or beyond recovery.
After searching for hours, they gave up the keys for lost.
Give up on someone
To stop having hope or faith in someone.
Even though he struggled, his teacher never gave up on him.
Give up the ship
To surrender; to stop fighting or resisting.
No matter the challenge, she would never give up the ship.
Give up in disgust
To quit something out of frustration or disdain.
She gave up in disgust after seeing the corruption.
Give up hope
To lose hope about something.
They gave up hope of finding the lost dog.
Give up without a fight
To surrender or submit easily, without resistance.
The team gave up without a fight and lost heavily.
Give up one’s seat
To offer one's place or position to someone else.
He gave up his seat to the elderly lady on the bus.
Give up for good
To quit something permanently.
After the accident, he gave up driving for good.
Give up one’s claim
To abandon a demand or assertion of right.
After negotiations, he gave up his claim to the disputed land.
Give up the reins
To relinquish control or command to someone else.
The CEO gave up the reins to the younger executive.
Give up the struggle
To cease trying or resisting.
Tired of the constant failures, he gave up the struggle.
Give up for adoption
To make a child legally available for adoption by other parents.
She gave up her newborn for adoption to give him a better life.
Give up cold turkey
To abruptly stop a habit or addiction.
She gave up smoking cold turkey.
Give up Example Sentences
She wouldn’t give up her seat, despite the crowd.
It's hard to give up habits you've had for years.
After many hours of effort, he had to give up.
They didn't give up without a fight.
He didn't want to give up his pet to anyone.
Don't give up your dreams just because it's hard.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called give up?
"Give up" combines the verb "give," which means to present or yield control voluntarily, with "up," indicating cessation. It generally refers to stopping an effort or surrendering.
What is the first form of give up?
The first form of the verb is "give up."
What is the verb form of give up?
"Give up" is a phrasal verb consisting of the verb "give" and the preposition "up."
What is the root word of give up?
The root word of "give up" is "give."
How many syllables are in give up?
"Give up" has two syllables.
How do we divide give up into syllables?
"Give up" is divided into syllables as: give-up.
What is a stressed syllable in give up?
In "give up," the stress is on the first syllable: GIVE-up.
What is the third form of give up?
The third form of the verb "give up" is "given up."
What is the singular form of give up?
"Give up" is a verb phrase and does not have a singular or plural form.
How is give up used in a sentence?
"Give up" is used to express the cessation of trying or the act of surrendering. e.g., He decided to give up after several unsuccessful attempts.
What is another term for give up?
Another term for "give up" is "surrender" or "quit."
What is the plural form of give up?
"Give up" does not have a plural form as it is a verb phrase.
Is give up a noun or adjective?
"Give up" is neither a noun nor an adjective; it is a verb phrase.
What is the pronunciation of give up?
"Give up" is pronounced as /ɡɪv ʌp/.
Is give up a vowel or consonant?
The phrase "give up" starts with a consonant sound.
What is the second form of give up?
The second form of the verb "give up" is "gave up."
Is the word give up imperative?
"Give up" can be used in the imperative mood, as in commanding someone to cease efforts or surrender.
Is the word “give up” a direct object or an indirect object?
"Give up" is a verb phrase and does not serve as a direct or indirect object.
Which determiner is used with give up?
Determiners are not typically used with verb phrases like "give up."
Which vowel is used before give up?
As a verb phrase, "give up" does not commonly follow a vowel or require one before it in a sentence.
Is give up a negative or positive word?
"Give up" generally has a negative connotation, implying cessation or surrender due to failure or difficulty.
Is give up a collective noun?
No, "give up" is not a collective noun.
Is the give up term a metaphor?
"Give up" can sometimes be used metaphorically to signify cessation or surrender in various contexts.
What part of speech is give up?
"Give up" is a phrasal verb.
What is the opposite of give up?
The opposite of "give up" is "persevere" or "continue."
Is give up an adverb?
No, "give up" is not an adverb.
Is give up an abstract noun?
No, "give up" is a verb phrase and does not function as a noun.
Which preposition is used with give up?
"Give up" itself includes the preposition "up." Other prepositions are not generally used with it.
Which article is used with give up?
Articles are not used with verb phrases like "give up."
Is give up a countable noun?
"Give up" is not a noun; it is a verb phrase.
Is the word give up a gerund?
No, "give up" is not a gerund. The gerund form would involve the verb "giving" as in "giving up."
Which conjunction is used with give up?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "or" can be used with "give up" depending on the sentence construction.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
