give upverb

• 1

  To surrender (someone or something); to inform on (someone).

  • He was surrounded, so gave himself up.
  • They gave him up to the police.
• 2

  To relinquish (something)

  • He gave up his seat to an old man.
  • The king gave up land in exchange for peace.
• 3

  Devote or dedicate (oneself, one's life, etc.) to something.

  • I gave myself up to working for this cause.
  • She persuaded us to give up our time to the project.
• 4

  To have someone obtain (something) to one's disadvantage; to concede.

  • A good pitcher will give up very few home runs.
  • Don't tell them where you are, and try not to give up any clues either.
• 5

  To stop or quit (an activity, etc.).

  • They gave up the search when it got dark.
  • Once again, the WiFi isn't willing to work. When the guard comes to check tickets, I ask him if it ever works. He rolls his eyes and tells me it rarely does. He says I'll be lucky if I get it to connect. I give up trying.
• 6

  To abandon (someone or something)

  • I gave up my faith years ago.
  • The semi-streamlined contour of the earlier G.W.R. railcars has been given up in favour of a more utilitarian blunt-nose end, and effective floor space gained thereby.
• 7

  To lose hope concerning (someone or something)

  • They gave him up for dead.
• 8

  To admit defeat, capitulate; to desist for that reason.

  • OK, I give up, you win.
  • Wake in a sweat again / Another day's been laid to waste / In my disgrace / Stuck in my head again / Feels like I'll never leave this place / There's no escape / I'm my own worst enemy / I've given up / I'm sick of feeling / Is there nothing you can say? / Take this all away / I'm suffocating

give upadj

• 1

  dialectalBecome fully taken over by a certain quality, activity, trait, etc.

  • And now She Seems give up to Sin / Too much neglecting grace within