give-up
Americannoun
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something conceded or relinquished; concession.
Labor has balked at any more give-ups in the contract talks.
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Stock Exchange.
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a commission shared among two or more stockbrokers.
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a part of a commission that constitutes a single such share.
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verb
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to abandon hope (for)
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(tr) to renounce (an activity, belief, etc)
I have given up smoking
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(tr) to relinquish or resign from
he gave up the presidency
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(tr; usually reflexive) to surrender
the escaped convict gave himself up
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(tr) to reveal or disclose (information)
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(intr) to admit one's defeat or inability to do something
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(tr; often passive or reflexive) to devote completely (to)
she gave herself up to caring for the sick
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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 .
Etymology
Origin of give-up
First recorded in 1965–70; noun use of verb phrase give up
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Fans, with good reason, might stop buying tickets during a give-up era when the owner still makes a profits from revenue that are shared throughout MLB.
From Washington Post • Feb. 14, 2019
Rather, it was that dogged courage that never even permits a suggestion of give-up to enter the mind of the fighter.
From The Meadow-Brook Girls by the Sea Or The Loss of The Lonesome Bar by Aldridge, Janet
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.