Phrasal verb
give sth up
Definition
phrasal verb. To stop doing or having something, like a habit. It can also mean to stop trying to do something because it's too difficult.
phrasal verb. A transitive phrasal verb meaning to cease a habitual activity (e.g., smoking) or to abandon an effort or attempt.
Examples
“He needs to give up junk food.”
“She tried to learn the violin, but she gave it up after a few months.”
“Despite pressure from his sponsors, the mountaineer refused to give up his lifelong ambition of summiting the unclimbed peak without supplemental oxygen.”
Examples
simple
“He needs to give up junk food.”
contextual
“She tried to learn the violin, but she gave it up after a few months.”
complex
“Despite pressure from his sponsors, the mountaineer refused to give up his lifelong ambition of summiting the unclimbed peak without supplemental oxygen.”
Usage
Often used with habits (like smoking), foods (like sugar), or activities (like a hobby).
Teaching tip
Contrast with 'give in', which means to yield to pressure, whereas 'give up' means to quit an activity or abandon an effort.
Pitfall
He decided to give up it.
He decided to give it up.
When the object is a pronoun (like 'it' or 'them'), it must go between the verb and the particle.
Phrasal verb
Particles
up
Separability
separable
Pattern
give + up + object