Meaning & use
never give up
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Meanings
phraseidiom
To keep trying and refuse to stop or admit defeat, even when something is difficult.
Grammar: Used as a fixed encouraging phrase; when it is a normal verb phrase, give changes: 'He never gives up.'
Patterns
- never give up on something
- never give up on someone
- tell someone to never give up
Even after three failed attempts, she told herself to never give up.
My coach always says, 'Never give up, no matter how far behind you are.'
They never give up on their dream of opening a small bakery.
phraseidiom
To stop doing something or to quit a habit completely and for good.
Grammar: Often followed by a noun or -ing form: never give up smoking, never give up your seat.
Patterns
- never give up something
- never give up doing something
He promised to never give up his morning run, even in winter.
She will never give up trying to learn the piano.
Common combinations
- never give up hope
- The rescue team told the families to never give up hope.
- never give up on a dream
- Her parents taught her to never give up on a dream.
- never give up easily
- A good scientist does not give up easily.
- a never-give-up attitude
- His never-give-up attitude impressed the whole team.
Synonyms and how they differ
- persevere
- More formal and often used in writing; it means to continue despite difficulty, but it does not carry the same encouraging tone.
- keep trying
- A plainer, everyday way to say the same idea; it is less fixed and can be used in any tense.
- persist
- Suggests continuing firmly, sometimes in a stubborn way; it can sound less warm than 'never give up'.
Opposites
Word family
- give up phrasal verb
- To stop trying or stop doing something.
- never-give-up adjective
- Used before a noun to describe a determined attitude: a never-give-up spirit.
Commonly confused: never give up or never mind?
never give up vs never mind
A different fixed phrase used to say something is not important or to tell someone not to worry.
Practice
Which sentence uses the fixed phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
The normal verb pattern needs the third-person -s: 'She never gives up.' Option 1 is a possible past sentence, but it is not the fixed present phrase; options 2 and 3 are ungrammatical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “never give up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.