give up

If you do this, you stop an activity or stop hoping that someone or something will succeed.

• She gave up smoking.
• We have not given up hope.
• Why did you give up on the project?

How to use it: give up doing something (She gave up smoking last year.); give up on someone/something (Please do not give up on me.); give something up (He enjoyed running but gave it up after an injury.)

Similar words: quit, stop, abandon

Opposites: continue, persist

Common phrases: give up smoking, give up hope, give up on someone

If you do this, you let someone else have something you own, use, or control.

• I will not give up my seat.
• They gave up their land to the state.
• Would you give up control of the business?

How to use it: give something up (They refused to give their land up.); give something up to someone (He gave his seat up to an elderly passenger.)

Similar words: relinquish, surrender, hand over

Opposites: keep

Common phrases: give up something, give up your seat, give up control, give up a claim

If you do this, you accept that you cannot win or succeed and stop fighting or trying.

• I give up. What is the answer?
• The soldiers gave up after three days.
• Are you going to give up so easily?

Similar words: surrender, concede, yield

Opposites: resist

Common phrases: give up easily, never give up, give up the fight

If you do this, you hand someone over to the authorities or tell them who broke the law.

• He gave himself up to the police.
• She refused to give up her accomplice.
• Will they give the wanted man up to the authorities?

How to use it: give oneself up (The fugitive gave himself up at the police station.); give someone up to someone (She refused to give him up to the police.)

Similar words: hand over, turn in, inform on

Common phrases: give up someone, give up an accomplice, give up the suspect