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
  • The federal government dedicates virtually no resources to such work.
    Jasper Craven, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
  • The plan dedicates 35% of the total funding to preserving existing state infrastructure, 19% to water and transportation projects, 16% public safety projects and 11% in affordable housing and local projects.
    Mary Murphy, Twin Cities, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, the saddest novel ever written, devotes some space to the description of just such a device, the earliest example of a fictional machine capable of writing.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
  • But the governor also devotes several pages to providing his side of the story from the 2024 search for a vice-presidential candidate, after Harris wrote a detailed account of the traditionally secretive process, which included a less-than-warm meeting with Shapiro.
    Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 19 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Because they are considered low-impact, Type II actions are exempt from the full SEQRA environmental review process, which saves time and reduces bureaucratic hurdles.
    Carlina Rivera, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Be more human while AI handles production Use the time AI saves to develop fascinating hobbies and stories.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 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 4 Feb. 2026.

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