not give up

Meanings

1. 1phraseintransitive

   To continue trying at something instead of stopping or quitting.

   Grammar: No object here; the phrase means 'keep going'. With an object, 'give up' is separable: don't give up your dream.

   Patterns

   • not give up on something
   • never give up
   • decide not to give up

   She told the class not to give up after the first failure.

   He refused to give up, even when the training became painful.

   We should not give up on this idea just because it is difficult.

2. 2phraseintransitive

   To keep trying to help or support someone rather than abandoning them.

   Grammar: Usually followed by 'on' plus a person: not give up on someone.

   Patterns

   • not give up on someone
   • never give up on someone

   Her parents never gave up on her, even in her hardest year.

   Good teachers do not give up on students who struggle at first.

3. 3phrasetransitive

   To not stop doing something, such as a habit or an activity.

   Grammar: Takes an object, often after a negative: not give up your job, not give up singing.

   Patterns

   • not give up something
   • refuse to give up something

   He would not give up his morning run, whatever the weather.

   They decided not to give up the shop after all.

Common combinations

never give up

Never give up, no matter how slow your progress seems.

not give up on someone

A good coach does not give up on a player after one bad game.

refuse to give up

She refused to give up and tried the exam again.

not give up hope

The rescue team did not give up hope of finding them.

decide not to give up

After the setback, he decided not to give up his studies.

Synonyms and how they differ

persevere

More formal and serious; it stresses steady effort over a long time rather than simply not stopping.

keep going

More informal and neutral, used for continuing an activity without the sense of struggle.

stick with it

Informal and encouraging, often used for tasks or courses you might abandon.

Opposites

Word family

give up phrasal verb

The positive form: to stop doing something or to stop trying.

give up on phrasal verb

To stop hoping that someone or something will improve.

give-up noun

Rare and informal; used in phrases like 'no give-up in him'.

Commonly confused: not give up or give in?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “not give up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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