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• give-up
  give-up

  noun

  something conceded or relinquished; concession.
• give up
  give up

  verb

  to abandon hope (for)

give-up

American  

[giv-uhp] / ˈgɪvˌʌp /

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.

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give up British  

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

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give up Idioms  

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

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

3. 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]

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

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

6. 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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Etymology

Origin of give-up

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

give-up give up

That give-up would represent an implicit payment for the security imparted by the U.S. to the rest of the world.

From Barron's ● Apr. 10, 2026

But since that big scamper, Hasty has carried 10 times for 21 yards, with 12 of those coming on a third-and-28 give-up play against Denver in London.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 7, 2022

"There’s no give-up in this team," Kemp said.

From Fox News ● Aug. 30, 2021

"Leona has had a fantastic year and has a real grittiness. She's a good match player and will be solid, one of those never give-up players," said Matthew.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2021

But there was no give-up in her expression; determination marked every fine cut line.

From The Ranch Girls at Rainbow Lodge The Ranch Girls Series by Margaret Vandercook

But who wants to give up those massive stock valuations?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

The Galaxy give up a late goal and have to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders that hurts their chances of reaching the MLS Cup playoffs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

Powell said Russia was no longer claiming the US had agreed, at last year's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, that Ukraine should give up territory and Nato membership.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

You are the one who stuck to her original career plan, built her own future independently, did not give up a six-figure job to follow your heart or ask family members for handouts or loans.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

You must promise me that you will never, ever, give up on Willa.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• allowance
• compensation
• discount
• kickback
• payment
• rebate
• reimbursement
• repayment
• restitution