Give In Phrasal Verb – Meaning, Usage, and Examples Explained

The phrasal verb “give in” is commonly used in English when talking about surrendering, accepting defeat, or agreeing to something after resistance. It is often used in different contexts, such as arguments, negotiations, and personal struggles. For example, if someone keeps insisting on something and you finally agree, you can say, “I didn’t want to go to the party, but I finally gave in.”

Understanding how to use “give in” correctly can help you express agreement, persuasion, and even emotional surrender more naturally in conversations. Let’s explore its meanings and examples in detail.

Give In Phrasal Verb – Meaning and Examples

1. To Surrender or Accept Defeat

“Give in” is used when someone stops resisting or fighting, either in an argument, competition, or difficult situation.

Examples:

• After hours of debating, Liam finally gave in and admitted he was wrong.
• The soldiers refused to give in, even when they were outnumbered.
• Emma didn’t want to eat vegetables, but after her mom insisted, she gave in and ate her broccoli.

2. To Agree After Resistance

“Give in” also means agreeing to do something after initially refusing or resisting. This is common in negotiations, discussions, and everyday decision-making.

Examples:

• Noah kept asking for a puppy, and his parents finally gave in and got him one.
• Sarah didn’t want to take the extra shift, but she gave in after her boss pleaded with her.
• After arguing about vacation plans, Mark gave in and agreed to visit the mountains instead of the beach.

3. To Physically Collapse Due to Pressure

In some cases, “give in” can also refer to physically collapsing or losing strength when something cannot withstand pressure anymore.

Examples:

• The old chair finally gave in under his weight.
• The wooden bridge gave in after years of damage.
• After running for miles, her legs gave in, and she had to stop.

Common Mistakes When Using ‘Give In’ Phrasal Verb

Although “give in” is a simple phrasal verb, it is often misused by English learners. Below are some common mistakes and explanations on how to use “give in” correctly.

Confusing ‘Give In’ with ‘Give Up’

One of the most frequent mistakes is mixing up “give in” and “give up.” While they might seem similar, they have different meanings.

“Give in” means to finally agree after resisting or to surrender in an argument or negotiation. It suggests that someone initially refused but later changed their mind.

“Give up” means to stop trying or to quit entirely. It is used when someone abandons an effort, goal, or activity completely.

✅ Correct Usage:

• After hours of negotiation, the company finally gave in and agreed to the new contract terms. (The company resisted but later accepted.)
• Even after failing three times, Emma refused to give up on her dream of becoming a doctor. (Emma did not quit pursuing her goal.)

❌ Incorrect Usage:

• After hours of negotiation, the company finally gave up and agreed to the new contract terms. (Incorrect because “gave up” means quitting entirely, but here the company just agreed.)
• Even after failing three times, Emma refused to give in on her dream of becoming a doctor. (Incorrect because “give in” is not used when talking about persistence toward a goal.)

Incorrect Use of Direct Objects with ‘Give In’

The phrasal verb “give in” is an intransitive phrasal verb, which means it does not take a direct object. This is a common mistake learners make when using it in sentences. However, when specifying what someone is surrendering to, you must use the preposition “to” after “give in.” The correct structure is:

✅ Give in to + noun/pronoun

Correct Usage:

• After a long argument, she finally gave in to his demands.
• I didn’t want to buy the shoes, but I gave in to temptation.
• The company gave in to public pressure and changed its policy.

Incorrect Usage (with a direct object):

• After a long argument, she finally gave in his demands. ❌ (Incorrect – missing “to”)
• I didn’t want to buy the shoes, but I gave in temptation. ❌ (Incorrect – missing “to”)
• The company gave in public pressure and changed its policy. ❌ (Incorrect – missing “to”)

Key Rule:

Always use “give in to” when mentioning the thing or person you are surrendering to. If no object follows, you can simply use “give in” by itself.

✅ She didn’t want to apologize, but she finally gave in. (No direct object needed)

Using ‘Give In’ in Situations Where ‘Give Out’ or ‘Collapse’ Is More Appropriate

Another mistake is using “give in” when referring to something that breaks, stops working, or physically collapses. While “give in” can sometimes be used for a person losing strength, it is not commonly used for objects breaking. Instead, phrasal verbs like “give out” or verbs like “collapse” are more suitable.

✅ Correct Usage:

• After years of use, the old chair finally gave out under his weight.
• Her knees gave out, and she fell to the ground after running for miles.
• The bridge collapsed after the earthquake.

❌ Incorrect Usage:

• After years of use, the old chair finally gave in under his weight. (Incorrect because “gave in” is not commonly used for objects breaking.)
• The bridge gave in after the earthquake. (Incorrect because “collapse” is a better verb for this situation.)

Forgetting That ‘Give In’ Implies Initial Resistance

When using “give in,” it is important to remember that the phrase suggests an initial refusal or resistance before eventually agreeing. If there was no resistance in the first place, “give in” is not the right choice.

✅ Correct Usage:

• At first, Liam refuses to apologize, but after thinking about it, he gives in and says sorry. (He resisted at first but then changed his mind.)
• I told myself I wouldn’t eat fast food, but I gave in and ordered a burger. (There was initial hesitation before agreeing.)

❌ Incorrect Usage:

• She immediately agreed to the plan and gave in. (Incorrect because “give in” implies some level of resistance before agreement.)
• I didn’t argue at all; I just gave in and accepted the decision. (Incorrect because “gave in” is unnecessary if there was no resistance.)