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
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
In six-plus innings, the Japanese pitcher gave up four runs on six hits while striking out six batters and walking one.
—
Wayne Sterling, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
But despite his entreaties, including meeting with Putin in Alaska, floating sanctions relief, and threatening to cut off aid to Kyiv, the Russian president has refused to be charmed into giving up on his invasion.
—Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
The pickoff saved the Los Angeles Dodgers a run, as starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow walked Varsho and then gave up a single to Alejandro Kirk, but got the following two batters out to escape the jam.
—Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
Following Prince Andrew's decision to give up the use of his royal titles, questions have been raised about the status of his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and their two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for give up
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Wayne Sterling, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
But despite his entreaties, including meeting with Putin in Alaska, floating sanctions relief, and threatening to cut off aid to Kyiv, the Russian president has refused to be charmed into giving up on his invasion.
—Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
The pickoff saved the Los Angeles Dodgers a run, as starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow walked Varsho and then gave up a single to Alejandro Kirk, but got the following two batters out to escape the jam.
—Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
Following Prince Andrew's decision to give up the use of his royal titles, questions have been raised about the status of his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and their two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 2025.
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