give up

verb

1. lose (s.th.) or lose the right to (s.th.) by some error, offense, or crime (Freq. 9)

-

you've forfeited your right to name your successor

-

forfeited property

• Syn: ↑forfeit, ↑throw overboard, ↑waive, ↑forgo, ↑forego

• Ant: ↑claim (for: ↑forfeit)

• Derivationally related forms: ↑waiver (for: ↑waive), ↑forfeiture (for: ↑forfeit), ↑forfeit (for: ↑forfeit)

• Hypernyms: ↑abandon

• Hyponyms: ↑lapse

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

2. give up with the intent of never claiming again (Freq. 5)

-

Abandon your life to God

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She gave up her children to her ex-husband when she moved to Tahiti

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We gave the drowning victim up for dead

• Syn: ↑abandon

• Derivationally related forms: ↑abandonment (for: ↑abandon)

• Hyponyms: ↑foreswear, ↑renounce, ↑quit, ↑relinquish

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s somebody

3. give up in the face of defeat of lacking hope; admit defeat (Freq. 5)

-

In the second round, the challenger gave up

• Syn:

↑drop out, ↑fall by the wayside, ↑drop by the wayside, ↑throw in, ↑throw in the towel, ↑quit, ↑chuck up the sponge

• Ant: ↑enter (for: ↑drop out)

• Derivationally related forms: ↑quitter (for: ↑quit)

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s

-

Somebody ——s PP

-

Somebody ——s something

(for: ↑quit)

-

Somebody ——s something

4. put an end to a state or an activity (Freq. 3)

-

Quit teasing your little brother

• Syn: ↑discontinue, ↑stop, ↑cease, ↑quit, ↑lay off

• Ant: ↑continue (for: ↑discontinue)

• Derivationally related forms: ↑cessation (for: ↑cease), ↑cease (for: ↑cease), ↑stop (for: ↑stop), ↑stoppage (for: ↑stop), ↑discontinuation (for: ↑discontinue), ↑discontinuance (for: ↑discontinue)

• Hyponyms:

↑drop, ↑knock off, ↑leave off, ↑sign off, ↑retire, ↑withdraw, ↑pull the plug, ↑shut off, ↑close off, ↑cheese, ↑call it quits, ↑call it a day, ↑break

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

-

Something ——s something

-

Somebody ——s VERB-ing

-

Somebody ——s to INFINITIVE

(for: ↑cease)

-

Somebody ——s to INFINITIVE

(for: ↑stop)

-

They give up moving

5. part with a possession or right (Freq. 3)

-

I am relinquishing my bedroom to the long-term house guest

-

resign a claim to the throne

• Syn: ↑release, ↑relinquish, ↑resign, ↑free

• Derivationally related forms: ↑relinquishment (for: ↑relinquish), ↑relinquishing (for: ↑relinquish), ↑release (for: ↑release)

• Hypernyms: ↑pass, ↑hand, ↑reach, ↑pass on, ↑turn over, ↑give

• Hyponyms: ↑derequisition, ↑sacrifice, ↑give

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s something to somebody

6. give up what is not strictly needed (Freq. 3)

-

he asked if they could spare one of their horses to speed his journey

• Syn: ↑spare, ↑part with, ↑dispense with

• Hypernyms: ↑give

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

7. leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily (Freq. 2)

-

She vacated the position when she got pregnant

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The chairman resigned when he was found to have misappropriated funds

• Syn: ↑vacate, ↑resign, ↑renounce

• Derivationally related forms: ↑resignation (for: ↑resign), ↑vacant (for: ↑vacate)

• Hypernyms: ↑leave office, ↑quit, ↑step down, ↑resign

• Hyponyms: ↑abdicate, ↑renounce

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s

(for: ↑resign)

-

Somebody ——s

(for: ↑vacate)

8. relinquish possession or control over (Freq. 2)

-

The squatters had to surrender the building after the police moved in

• Syn: ↑surrender, ↑cede, ↑deliver

• Derivationally related forms: ↑cession (for: ↑cede), ↑surrender (for: ↑surrender), ↑surrenderer (for: ↑surrender)

• Hypernyms: ↑give, ↑gift, ↑present

• Hyponyms: ↑yield up, ↑sell, ↑sign away, ↑sign over

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s something to somebody

9. give up or agree to forgo to the power or possession of another (Freq. 2)

-

The last Taleban fighters finally surrendered

• Syn: ↑surrender

• Ant: ↑resist (for: ↑surrender)

• Derivationally related forms: ↑surrender (for: ↑surrender), ↑surrenderer (for: ↑surrender)

• Hypernyms: ↑yield

• Hyponyms: ↑abnegate, ↑concede, ↑capitulate

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s

-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s something to somebody

10. stop maintaining or insisting on; of ideas or claims (Freq. 2)

-

He abandoned the thought of asking for her hand in marriage

-

Both sides have to give up some claims in these negotiations

• Syn: ↑abandon

• Derivationally related forms: ↑abandonment (for: ↑abandon)

• Verb Group:

↑collapse, ↑fall in, ↑cave in, ↑give, ↑give way, ↑break, ↑founder, ↑move over, ↑ease up, ↑yield

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

11. allow the other (baseball) team to score (Freq. 1)

-

give up a run

• Syn: ↑allow

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

12. stop consuming (Freq. 1)

-

kick a habit

-

give up alcohol

• Syn: ↑kick

• Hypernyms: ↑waive, ↑relinquish, ↑forgo, ↑forego, ↑foreswear, ↑dispense with

• Verb Frames:

-

Somebody ——s something

-

Somebody ——s VERB-ing

* * *

cease making an effort; resign oneself to failure

* * *

give up [phrasal verb]

1 : to stop an activity or effort : to admit that you cannot do something and stop trying : ↑quit

He vowed that he would never give up.

I give up! I don't know what more I can do to please my girlfriend!

“How many prime numbers are there between 1 and 100? Well, do you give up?” “OK, I give up!”

2 give (something) up or give up (something)

2 a : to stop having, doing, or using (something)

He was forced to give up his job.

She refused to give up trying.

My doctor urged me to give up smoking/cigarettes.

Rescuers have not yet given up hope that more survivors will be found.

He gave up his seat to an elderly woman. [=he got out of his seat so that an elderly woman could sit there]

2 b : to stop trying to do (something)

We did our best to repair the engine, but in the end we had to give it up as impossible.

2 c sports : to allow (a score, a hit, etc.) by an opposing team or player

The defense gave up two touchdowns in the first quarter.

The pitcher didn't give up a hit till the ninth inning.

3 give (yourself) up : to surrender (yourself) as a prisoner

The fugitive eventually gave himself up (to the police/authorities).

4 give (someone) up

4 a : to stop trying to improve the condition of (someone) because it seems hopeless

The teacher gave him up as a hopeless case.

The doctors gave him up for dead. [=the doctors said that he was certain to die]

4 b : to stop having hope of seeing (someone)

We'd given you up (for lost) hours ago!

5 give (yourself) up to (something) : to allow (yourself) to be fully affected by, controlled by, or involved in (something)

He gave himself up to despair.

She gave herself up completely to her work.

6 give up on (someone)

6 a : to stop trying to improve the condition of (someone)

He has gotten in trouble many times, but his parents have never given up on him.

Please don't give up on me. I promise I'll do better.

6 b : to stop having hope of seeing (someone)

We'd given up on you hours ago!

7 give up on (something) : to stop trying to do or achieve (something)

They have given up on their plan to build a new factory.

She hasn't given up on trying to convince her husband to buy a new car.

• • •

Main Entry: ↑give

* * *

ˌgive ˈup derived

to stop trying to do sth

•

They gave up without a fight.

•

She doesn't give up easily.

•

I give up— tell me the answer.

Main entry: ↑give_derived