The phrasal verb “give up” is commonly used when someone quits, surrenders, or stops making an effort. However, using the same phrase repeatedly can make your writing or speech sound repetitive. To enhance your vocabulary, it’s important to know synonyms for “give up” that fit different contexts.
For example, instead of saying, “He gave up trying to fix the car,” you could say, “He abandoned the idea of fixing the car.” Choosing the right synonym helps you express yourself more effectively.
This guide explores alternative words and phrases for “give up“, along with their meanings and examples to help you use them correctly.
Synonyms for “Give Up” with Meanings and Examples
1. Quit
Used when someone stops doing an activity, habit, or job.
- Olivia quit her job to start her own business.
- He quit smoking after ten years.
- I almost quit the marathon, but I pushed through.
2. Abandon
Used when someone completely leaves or stops pursuing something.
- They abandoned their trip due to bad weather.
- He abandoned his plan to become a lawyer.
- She abandoned the book halfway because it wasn’t interesting.
3. Stop Trying
A simple and direct way to express giving up an effort.
- She finally stopped trying after multiple failed attempts.
- Don’t stop trying—you’re almost there!
- He stopped trying to convince his parents and just accepted their decision.
4. Drop Out
Used when someone leaves a program, competition, or commitment.
- He dropped out of college after two years.
- The team had to drop out of the tournament due to injuries.
- She dropped out of the dance recital because of an ankle injury.
5. Walk Away
Used when someone decides to leave a situation or responsibility.
- After years of struggling, he finally walked away from his business.
- She walked away from a toxic relationship.
- The investor walked away from the deal after noticing risks.
6. Let Go
Used when someone releases control, effort, or hope.
- She had to let go of the past to move forward.
- After months of training, he let go of his dream of becoming a sprinter.
- It was hard for her to let go of the opportunity, but she knew it wasn’t right.
7. Throw in the Towel (Idiom)
A casual phrase meaning to quit or stop trying.
- After multiple failed attempts, he finally threw in the towel.
- She didn’t want to throw in the towel on her career, but she had no choice.
- The team threw in the towel when they were losing by 20 points.
8. Call It Quits (Idiom)
Used when someone decides to end an activity, relationship, or effort.
- After years of struggling, they called it quits and closed the shop.
- She decided to call it quits on learning piano after months of frustration.
- The business partners called it quits due to financial disagreements.
9. Pack It In (Informal)
Used when someone stops working on something or leaves a situation.
- After a long day, I decided to pack it in and go home.
- He wasn’t enjoying his job, so he packed it in and moved abroad.
- She packed it in and decided to pursue a different career.
10. Back Out
Used when someone quits something they had previously committed to.
- He backed out of the deal at the last minute.
- They were supposed to perform, but they backed out.
- She backed out of the event because of personal reasons.
11. Cease
Used when someone stops an action or activity permanently.
- The company ceased production due to financial losses.
- She ceased trying to convince him after many failed attempts.
- The government ceased funding for the project.
12. Discontinue
Used when stopping a service, activity, or product.
- The company decided to discontinue this product line.
- He discontinued his gym membership because he wasn’t using it.
- The store discontinued the item due to low demand.
13. Bow Out
Used when someone formally withdraws from an event, competition, or responsibility.
- The singer had to bow out of the competition due to illness.
- He bowed out of the election after facing strong opposition.
- She bowed out of the project to focus on personal matters.
14. Cut One’s Losses (Idiom)
Used when someone decides to stop an unsuccessful effort to avoid further losses.
- After months of struggling, they decided to cut their losses and close the store.
- I invested in the business, but it wasn’t working, so I cut my losses and moved on.
- She cut her losses and left the job that was stressing her out.
15. Step Down
Used when someone leaves a position, often voluntarily.
- The CEO decided to step down after ten years.
- She stepped down from the committee due to personal reasons.
- He stepped down as team captain to let younger players take over.
16. Detach
Used when someone emotionally or mentally disconnects from something they were invested in.
- Over time, he detached himself from the toxic work environment.
- She decided to detach from the situation instead of letting it stress her out.
- He learned to detach from things he couldn’t control.
17. Dissolve
Used when stopping an agreement, contract, or group.
- The partners dissolved their business after facing financial issues.
- The club was dissolved due to a lack of members.
- They decided to dissolve the contract after disagreements.
18. Fold Up (Informal)
Used when a business or project closes down permanently.
- Due to financial struggles, the company had to fold up.
- The bookstore folded up after years of declining sales.
- They folded up their small business and moved to a new industry.
19. Walk Off
Used when someone leaves suddenly due to frustration or quitting.
- The player walked off the field after an argument with the referee.
- He walked off in the middle of the meeting after a disagreement.
- She walked off the job after being mistreated.
20. Shut Down
Used when stopping a business, system, or service completely.
- The restaurant had to shut down due to financial problems.
- The website will shut down next month due to low traffic.
- The government shut down unnecessary programs to cut costs.
