# give up on

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/give-up-on
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to stop hoping that someone will improve or that something will succeed.

For teachers: to cease to have expectations for or faith in a person, project, or outcome; often implies a loss of patience or belief in potential.

## Examples

- Don't give up on your dreams.
- The coach refused to give up on the team even after they lost five games in a row.
- Despite several failed prototypes, the lead engineer was not prepared to give up on the original design concept just yet.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He gave up on to learn piano." but "He gave up on learning piano." — the preposition 'on' must be followed by a gerund (-ing) rather than an infinitive.

## Usage notes

- followed by a noun or a gerund (-ing form) representing the person or thing being abandoned.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'give up' (to stop an activity); 'give up on' specifically requires an object and focuses on the loss of faith or hope in that object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.