give-up

[giv-uhp]

noun

1. something conceded or relinquished; concession.

   Labor has balked at any more give-ups in the contract talks.

2. Stock Exchange.

   1. a commission shared among two or more stockbrokers.

   2. a part of a commission that constitutes a single such share.

give up

verb

1. to abandon hope (for)

2. (tr) to renounce (an activity, belief, etc)

   I have given up smoking

3. (tr) to relinquish or resign from

   he gave up the presidency

4. (tr; usually reflexive) to surrender

   the escaped convict gave himself up

5. (tr) to reveal or disclose (information)

6. (intr) to admit one's defeat or inability to do something

7. (tr; often passive or reflexive) to devote completely (to)

   she gave herself up to caring for the sick

Word History and Origins

Origin of give up¹

First recorded in 1965–70; noun use of verb phrase give up

Idioms and Phrases

Surrender, as in The suspect gave himself up . [1100s]

Stop doing or performing something, as in They gave up the search , or She gave up smoking almost thirty years ago . [c. 1600]

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]

Lose hope for, as in We had given you up as lost . [Late 1500s]

Admit defeat, as in I give up—what's the right answer? [c. 1600]

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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