Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To stop doing, having, or attempting something; to cease an activity or habit.
   • To relinquish or surrender something, such as a possession, right, or claim.
   • To stop trying to do something because it is too difficult or because you accept you cannot succeed.
   • To deliver or hand over someone or something.

2. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To admit defeat; to stop trying or competing.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (Transitive):

  • He decided to give up smoking for his health.
  • The fugitive was forced to give up his weapon to the police.
  • I give up; I can't solve this puzzle. Can you tell me the answer?
  • She had to give up her seat on the bus for an elderly passenger.

• Verb (Intransitive):

  • Don't give up! Keep trying and you will succeed.
  • The team refused to give up, even when they were losing.

Advanced Usage

• "give up on (someone/something)": To stop hoping that someone will improve or that something will happen.

  • His teacher never gave up on him, even when he was struggling.
  • I've given up on the idea of getting a promotion this year.

• "give oneself up": To surrender oneself to an authority.

  • After a long chase, the criminal gave himself up to the authorities.

• "give up for dead/lost": To believe that someone is dead or that something is lost and cannot be recovered.

  • After three days at sea, they were almost given up for dead.

Variants and Related Words

• Give-up (noun): In finance, a transaction where one broker transfers a client's order to another broker for execution.
• Given up (adjective): Describing something that has been abandoned or relinquished.

Synonyms

• Abandon: To leave completely and finally.
• Relinquish: To voluntarily cease to keep or claim.
• Surrender: To yield to the power or control of another.
• Quit: To stop, cease, or discontinue.
• Forfeit: To lose or lose the right to something as a penalty.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Give in: To yield or surrender, often after pressure or argument.
  • He finally gave in to their demands.
• Give over (to): To devote or set aside for a particular purpose.
  • The building was given over to community use.

Related Idioms

• "Don't give up the day job": A humorous way to tell someone they are not very good at something they are trying to do, implying they should not pursue it professionally.
  • After hearing him sing, his friend said, "Don't give up the day job."
• "Give up the ghost": To die or stop working completely (often used for machines).
  • My old car finally gave up the ghost on the highway.

Verb

1. stop consuming
   • kick a habit
   • give up alcohol
2. allow the other (baseball) team to score
   • give up a run
3. stop maintaining or insisting on; of ideas or claims
   • He abandoned the thought of asking for her hand in marriage
   • Both sides have to give up some claims in these negotiations
4. give up or agree to forgo to the power or possession of another
   • The last Taleban fighters finally surrendered
5. relinquish possession or control over
   • The squatters had to surrender the building after the police moved in
6. leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
   • She vacated the position when she got pregnant
   • The chairman resigned when he was found to have misappropriated funds
7. part with a possession or right
   • I am relinquishing my bedroom to the long-term house guest
   • resign a claim to the throne
8. give up what is not strictly needed
   • he asked if they could spare one of their horses to speed his journey
9. put an end to a state or an activity
   • Quit teasing your little brother
10. give up in the face of defeat of lacking hope; admit defeat
    • In the second round, the challenger gave up
11. give up with the intent of never claiming again
    • Abandon your life to God
    • She gave up her children to her ex-husband when she moved to Tahiti
    • We gave the drowning victim up for dead
12. lose (s.th.) or lose the right to (s.th.) by some error, offense, or crime
    • you've forfeited your right to name your successor
    • forfeited property