give up
verb
gave up; given up; giving up; gives up
1
: to yield control or possession of : surrender
forced to give up his job
2
: to desist from : abandon
refused to give up her efforts
3
: to declare incurable or insoluble
4
a
: to abandon (oneself) to a particular feeling, influence, or activity
gave himself up to despair
b
: to devote to a particular purpose or use
5
: to despair of seeing
we'd given you up
6
: to allow (a hit or run in baseball) while pitching
: to cease doing or attempting something especially as an admission of defeat : quit
—often used with on
don't give up on the project
see also give up the ghost
Examples of give up in a Sentence
was in so much debt he had to give up his house and move into a cheaper apartment
I hope you won't give up playing the piano.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans doesn't quit trying to help service members — even when a veteran gives up on themselves.
—
Reg Chapman, CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
How does a top defense respond to giving up an explosive play?
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
Co-defensive coordinator Eric Henderson called the plays on defense, and the Trojans gave up 258 passing yards and 117 rushing yards at the Alamodome.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 31 Dec. 2025
Ole Miss led that game 35-26 entering the fourth quarter, but gave up 17 unanswered points as its offense went ice cold in the final frame.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for give up
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Reg Chapman, CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
How does a top defense respond to giving up an explosive play?
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
Co-defensive coordinator Eric Henderson called the plays on defense, and the Trojans gave up 258 passing yards and 117 rushing yards at the Alamodome.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 31 Dec. 2025
Ole Miss led that game 35-26 entering the fourth quarter, but gave up 17 unanswered points as its offense went ice cold in the final frame.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for give up
Cite this Entry
“Give up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/give%20up. Accessed 2 Jan. 2026.
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