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Phrase Meanings » give up
What does "give up" mean?
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Surrender, as in The suspect gave himself up. [1100s]
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Stop doing or performing something, as in They gave up the search, or She gave up smoking almost thirty years ago. [c. 1600]
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Part with, relinquish, as in They gave up their New York apartment, or We gave up all hope of finding the lost tickets. [Mid-1500s]
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Lose hope for, as in We had given you up as lost. [Late 1500s]
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Admit defeat, as in I give up—what's the right answer? [c. 1600]
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give up on. Abandon, lose one's faith in, as in I gave up on writing a novel, or She gave up on religion years ago. [Colloquial; second half of 1900s] Also see give oneself up to.
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