given up

Definition of given upnext
past participle of give up
1
as in relinquished
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4
as in yielded
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 given up The Sharks have given up 259 goals while scoring 222 for a -37 scoring differential. ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026 Around the same time, CBS LA learned that law enforcement had also given up chasing the suspect due to safety concerns. Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026 The blowout loss would mark not only the biggest margin of defeat for the Trojans in two seasons under Musselman but also the first time USC (18-8 overall, 7-8 in the Big Ten) has given up more than 100 points in a game since 2019. Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026 The Jets shouldn’t have given up on him. Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Not all employers have given up on hiring Gen Zers—despite headlines that suggest otherwise. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026 That’s not to say the planet’s biggest emitters have given up on fossil fuels. Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025 To talk about it too loudly was to risk sounding like you’d given up. Natalie Unterstell, Time, 6 Nov. 2025 The Hurricanes have turned the ball over just seven times, all on interceptions, but have not given up any points off those seven turnovers. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for given up
Verb
  • Coughlin was in a three-way tie for the lead after the first round and never relinquished that position as others fell off.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Simmons was set to be Ole Miss’ starter in 2025, but an early-season ankle injury derailed that, and Trinidad Chambliss took over and never relinquished the job.
    Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • But later that month, after several employees talked about quitting, the plan was abandoned.
    Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
  • On Israel, which fringes on both the Left and the Right have increasingly abandoned, Gallego questioned those who want to defund defensive support to the Middle Eastern nation.
    Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Woo yielded one hit over seven brilliant innings, setting down his last 12 batters and recording six strikeouts while matching the longest scoreless start of his career.
    CBS News, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The seven runs yielded by Lorenzen before the Rockies had a chance to bat were the most runs allowed in the opening frame in 34 years of Colorado home openers.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • At the Greeley plant, union officials said the company tried to intimidate workers to quit the union in one-on-one meetings, union general counsel Matt Shechter said.
    Katie Langford, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Still, cuts to the airport security agency would come at a critical time for air travel with rising concerns about air safety after more than 500 TSA officers quit in recent weeks and amid a longstanding shortage of air traffic controllers.
    Reuters, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Some players collapsed onto the turf in joyful tears.
    Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Estrada Juarez collapsed into her daughter’s embrace.
    Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Baiamonte was also on the Kaseya Center microphone for one of the most memorable performances in NBA history this season, when Heat center Bam Adebayo turned in the second-highest scoring performance in league history by totaling 83 points in a March 10 home win over the Wizards.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
  • In the bullpen, RHP Garrett Whitlock has turned in three scoreless appearances while RHP Greg Weissert has allowed three runs in 2⅔ innings.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • This wouldn’t be another Venezuela that capitulated to America.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Venice itself, deprived of Piedmontese naval support, capitulated in August.
    Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • When a president leaves office, the Presidential Records Act requires material to be turned over to the National Archives, which maintains the documents.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • While at the hospital, the child was showing signs of life, and the investigation was turned over to CMPD’s Youth Crime detectives.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Given up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/given%20up. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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