give up on (someone or something)
idiom
1
: to stop trying to improve the condition of (someone)
He has gotten in trouble many times, but his parents have never given up on him.
Please don't give up on me. I promise I'll do better.
2
: to stop having hope of seeing (someone)
We'd given up on you hours ago!
3
: to stop trying to do or achieve (something)
They have given up on their plan to build a new factory.
She hasn't given up on trying to convince her husband to buy a new car.
Examples of give up on (someone or something) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Those signs have come in flashes and have not been consistent, but the Pelicans simply are not ready to give up on him yet.
—
Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025
With a relatively small number of chains, PBMs must include North Dakota’s independents in preferred networks, particularly with Medicare plans, or give up on serving parts of the state.
—Mark Dent, HubSpot, 25 July 2025
That’s what makes good people give up on great things.
—Erin Stafford, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Even as China rises and the United States retreats, Southeast Asians are not willing to give up on Washington.
—Yuen Foong Khong, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for give up on (someone or something)
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Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025
With a relatively small number of chains, PBMs must include North Dakota’s independents in preferred networks, particularly with Medicare plans, or give up on serving parts of the state.
—Mark Dent, HubSpot, 25 July 2025
That’s what makes good people give up on great things.
—Erin Stafford, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Even as China rises and the United States retreats, Southeast Asians are not willing to give up on Washington.
—Yuen Foong Khong, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for give up on (someone or something)
Cite this Entry
“Give up on (someone or something).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/give%20up%20on%20%28someone%20or%20something%29. Accessed 10 Aug. 2025.
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