Give up (verb)

Meaning & Definition of Give up

to yield control or possession of, surrender
to desist from, abandon
to declare incurable or insoluble

Give up (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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"

similar: cede, cough up, deliver, hand over, lay down, relinquish, render, surrender, turn in, turn over, yield

related: commit, consign, entrust, transfer, forfeit, release, waive, abnegate, renounce, resign, abandon, desert, discard, forsake, part (with), shed

near: keep, retain, withhold
to stop doing (something) permanently

"I hope you won't give up playing the piano"

similar: abandon, discontinue, drop, knock off, lay off (of), pack (up or in), quit, hang it up, have done (with)

related: break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, end, expire, finish, halt, leave off, shut off, pause, taper off, throw up, round (off or out), terminate, wind up, wrap up

opposite: carry on, continue, keep, keep up, maintain

near: go, run on, hang in, hang on, hold on, persevere, persist, follow through (with), renew, reopen, restart, resume, preserve, stay, begin, commence, start
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces

"with the prospect of a renewed enemy attack, the regiment decided to simply give up"

similar: capitulate, fall, knuckle under, submit, succumb, surrender

related: bow, buckle, cave (in), collapse, give (in), hand over, relinquish, lose, concede, fail, fold

opposite: endure, stand

near: buck, defy, fight, oppose, repel, resist, withstand, beat, overcome, win, conquer, prevail, triumph
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"

similar: abandon, deliver, indulge, surrender, yield

related: overdo, overindulge, bask, luxuriate, revel, roll, wallow

opposite: deny

near: abstain (from), eschew, forbear, forgo, refrain (from), check, inhibit, restrain

Related Entry: Give up (to) (verb)

Give up (to) is a different word from Give up. The synonyms below are for give up (to), not for give up.

to keep or intend for a special purpose

"unfortunately, when he was in college, weekends were largely given up to binge drinking"

similar: allocate, consecrate, dedicate, devote, earmark, reserve, save, set by, set apart, set aside

related: bless, hallow, sanctify, commit, confide, consign, entrust, apply, bestow, employ, use

near: ignore, neglect, misapply, misuse

Related Entry: Give up the ghost (phrase)

Give up the ghost is a different word from Give up. The synonyms below are for give up the ghost, not for give up.

to stop living

"Her estranged sister gave up the ghost years ago."

similar: check out, conk (out), croak (slang), decease, demise, depart, die, drop, end, exit, expire, fall, flatline, go, kick in (slang), kick off (slang), pass (on), pass away, part, peg out (chiefly British), perish, pop off, step out, succumb, bite the dust, buy it, kick the bucket, snuff it (British)

related: predecease, consume, disappear, dry up, fade, fail

opposite: breathe, live

near: come to, revive, linger, be, exist, subsist, flourish, prosper, thrive

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Give up

The most common words with a similar meaning to Give up:

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Give up

Words with the opposite meaning of Give up:

carry on, continue, keep, keep up, maintain, endure, stand, deny

Related Words for Give up

commit, consign, entrust, transfer, forfeit, release, waive, abnegate, renounce, resign, desert, discard, forsake, part (with), shed, break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, end, expire, finish, halt, leave off, shut off, pause, taper off, throw up, round (off or out)

Near Antonyms of Give up

retain, withhold, go, run on, hang in, hang on, hold on, persevere, persist, follow through (with), renew, reopen, restart, resume, preserve, stay, begin, commence, start, buck, defy, fight, oppose, repel, resist, withstand, beat, overcome, win, conquer

Word Forms of Give up

Inflections: gave up, given up, giving up, gives up

Origin & Etymology of Give up

First known use: 12th centuryt

Words & Phrases Containing Give up

give up the ghost, give up on (someone or something)

Frequently Asked Questions about Give up

What does "Give up" mean?

"Give up" means to yield control or possession of, surrender. As a verb, it is defined as: to yield control or possession of, surrender. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Give up"?

Other words for "Give up" include cede, cough up, deliver, hand over, lay down, relinquish, render and surrender. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Give up" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Give up"?

There are 75 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Give up". Common alternatives include cede, cough up, deliver, hand over, lay down, relinquish, render, surrender, turn in and turn over.

What is the opposite of "Give up"?

Antonyms of "Give up" include carry on, continue, keep, keep up, maintain, endure, stand and deny. Near antonyms include retain, withhold, go and run on.

How do you use "Give up" in a sentence?

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"; "with the prospect of a renewed enemy attack, the regiment decided to simply give up".

Is "Give up" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Give up" is a verb.

What is the origin of the word "Give up"?

First known use: 12th centuryt.

What is another word for "Give up" meaning "to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress"?

When "Give up" (verb) means to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress, synonyms include cede, cough up, deliver, hand over, lay down and relinquish.