give up

Formsgives up, giving up, gave up, given up

1. 1
   phrasal verbtransitive

   To stop doing something, like a habit or an activity.

   My dad gave up smoking last year.

   Don't give up piano just because the new songs are hard.

   Similarcease, discontinue

   Oppositecontinue

   Note
2. 2
   phrasal verbintransitive

   To stop trying because you accept that you cannot win.

   I can't solve this riddle. I give up!

   The team was losing badly, but they didn't give up.

   Similarsurrender, capitulate

   Oppositepersevere, persist

   Note
3. 3
   phrasal verbtransitive

   To let someone else have something that was yours.

   He gave up his room so his grandma could stay with us.

   I won't give up my weekends for this job.

   Similarsurrender, yield

   Oppositekeep, retain

   Note
4. 4
   stop hopingphrasal verbtransitive

   To stop hoping that someone or something will be found or saved.

   We had given up our stolen bike for lost until the police called.

   The town would not give up the missing hikers for dead.

5. 5
   abandonphrasal verbtransitive

   To leave a person, or to stop holding on to a belief or plan.

   She gave up her dream of being a dancer after she hurt her knee.

   I will never give up my friends, even when things get hard.

   Similardesert, forsake

   Oppositekeep

   Note
6. 6
   phrasal verbtransitive

   To let someone get something that hurts you, like points in a game.

   Our goalie gave up three goals in the first half.

   A good poker player won't give up any hint of what's in her hand.

   Similarallow, concede, yield

   Note
7. 7
   phrasal verbtransitive

   To hand someone or something over, often to the police, or to tell on someone.

   The thieves gave up their boss to the police to get shorter sentences.

   Soldiers who give up their weapons will not be harmed.

   Similarsurrender, yield

   Note
8. 8
   tell (a secret)phrasal verbslangUStransitive

   To tell or let out something you know.

   She won't give up who told her the secret.

   He finally gave up that he broke the window.

   Similarreveal, admit, tell, spill

   Note
9. 9
   noun · give-upcolloquialcountable or uncountable

   The act of quitting, or of letting go of something you have.

   My little sister has no give-up in her, even when she's losing.

   The workers agreed to some give-ups so the factory could stay open.

   Similarconcession, surrender

   Note
10. 10
    pass a tradephrasal verbtransitive

    In finance, to make a trade for another broker.

    Small firms often give up trades to a bigger broker who handles the paperwork.

    The broker gave up the trade to another firm the same day.

    Note
11. 11
    accept asphrasal verbdialectalUSintransitive

    To agree that someone is something, such as the best at a skill.

    The next morning, Sunday, I was boxing with R., who had come over with three or four others to swap a few with me. I was given up to be the best boxer around, and I laid them cold as fast as they came at me.

    1969, God Struck Me Dead; Religious Conversion Experiences and Autobiographies of Ex-Slaves, PhiladelphiaHere, given up means known or accepted as being the best boxer.

    Note
12. 12
    devotedadjectivedialectalUS

    Completely taken over by a habit, a feeling, or a way of acting.

    And now She Seems give up to Sin / Too much neglecting grace within

    c. 1808, Mary Woody, A true account of Nayomy WiseHere, give up means fully given over to something, totally lost in sin.

    Note

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