give up
9 synonyms and 3 antonyms for give up, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Phrasal verb — To stop trying to do something because it has become too hard or seems hopeless.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. phrasal verb
To stop trying to do something because it has become too hard or seems hopeless.
“Don't give up now, you are two chapters from the end.”
Opposites
2. phrasal verb
To stop doing or having something, especially a habit or pleasure.
“He gave up smoking the day his daughter was born.”
3. phrasal verb
To hand something over, or to surrender yourself, to someone else.
“She gave up her seat to an older passenger.”
How to use give up
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Everyday English, suitable in all but the most formal writing, where 'abandon' or 'relinquish' may fit better.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between give up and give in?
Give up means to stop trying altogether. Give in means to stop resisting someone else's pressure and let them have their way. You give up on a puzzle; you give in to a child who has been begging for sweets.
What is the difference between 'give up' and 'give up on'?
Give up takes the activity as its object: 'she gave up running'. Give up on takes the person or the hope you are abandoning: 'she gave up on running', meaning she lost faith in it, or 'don't give up on me'.
Is 'give up' formal enough for an essay?
It is fine in most writing, but for academic prose consider abandon, relinquish, discontinue or renounce, which are more formal and often more precise.