give-up
B1neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
to stop trying to do something because it is too difficult or seems impossible
to surrender, relinquish, or abandon something; to stop doing or having something; to devote or sacrifice oneself to something
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can be transitive or intransitive. Often implies a sense of defeat or resignation. When used reflexively (give oneself up), means to surrender to authorities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Both use 'give up' with same patterns.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British English in some contexts (e.g., 'give up smoking' vs. 'quit smoking' in US).
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties, though Americans may prefer 'quit' for habits.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
give up + noungive up + gerundgive up + on + noun/pronoungive up + object + as + adjectiveVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “give up the ghost”
- “give up without a fight”
- “never give up”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used when discussing abandoning projects or strategies: 'We had to give up the expansion plan.'
Academic
Appears in discussions of perseverance in research: 'The team refused to give up despite setbacks.'
Everyday
Common for habits and attempts: 'I'm trying to give up caffeine.'
Technical
Rare in technical contexts except in psychology (studies on perseverance).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He decided to give up his seat on the train.
- Don't give up trying to learn the piano.
American English
- She gave up her apartment in the city.
- I'm not giving up on this project yet.
adverb
British English
- He walked away give-up-ly, shoulders slumped.
- She sighed give-up-ly at the failed attempt.
American English
- He shrugged give-up-ly and left the room.
- She answered give-up-ly, 'Fine, whatever.'
adjective
British English
- He had a give-up attitude that worried his coach.
- There's no give-up spirit in this team.
American English
- Her give-up mentality held her back.
- We need to avoid a give-up culture.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I give up! This puzzle is too hard.
- She gave up chocolate for a month.
- He gave up his job to travel the world.
- Don't give up on your dreams.
- The researchers refused to give up despite numerous failures.
- She gave up her weekend to volunteer at the shelter.
- The defendant eventually gave himself up to the authorities.
- They had to give up the venture due to insufficient capital.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone physically handing over (giving) their efforts upward (up) to the sky, symbolizing letting go.
Conceptual Metaphor
SURRENDER IS HANDING OVER CONTROL; ABANDONMENT IS RELEASING UPWARD
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'дать вверх' (literal nonsense).
- Don't confuse with 'give in' (уступать).
- Remember it's phrasal, not 'give' + separate 'up'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'give up' without object when transitive needed: 'I gave up' (okay) vs. 'I gave up to smoke' (wrong).
- Confusing 'give up' with 'give up on' (latter implies losing faith in someone).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'give up' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral but slightly more common in informal contexts. In formal writing, alternatives like 'relinquish' or 'abandon' may be preferred.
Yes, as an intransitive verb: 'After hours of trying, I finally gave up.'
'Give up' means to stop trying or abandon something. 'Give in' means to yield or surrender to pressure or demands.
Use it directly before the -ing form: 'She gave up drinking coffee.' Not 'She gave up to drink coffee.'
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