had practically given

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had practically given" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was very close to giving up or surrendering in a situation, often implying that they had not fully committed to that action yet. Example: "After months of struggling with the project, she had practically given up hope of completing it on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

When they met, Mr. Auchard had practically given up on dating.

The New York Times - Style

By mid-November, I had practically given up when an email from the ICO dropped into my inbox.

The Guardian

By 2010, the world had practically given up on an "official" GDrive product.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

I have practically given up generalizing from spring to spring.

The New York Times

At this stage, Romney and his advisers have practically given up hope of establishing an intimate bond between the candidate and the voters, which is probably wise.

The New Yorker

Women have practically given up on these three, so they open a frat house at the edge of some distinguished seat of higher learning and sign up the unlikeliest students on campus, along with a ragtag group of shapeless older men who have nothing else to do.

The New Yorker

The US has practically given up on persuading Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme.

BBC

J.R.R. Tolkien, the Oxford don and writer of the fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings, was rumored to have practically given away the movie rights to his books for a song.

Forbes

In the past, mobile carriers have practically given away high-end mobile phones to get customers to sign up for service, so the companies could gain market share and earn revenue through fees.

TechCrunch

If I were them, I would have practically given this away, not only as a "thank you" to the gamers of the world for supporting Nintendo and Mario for the last 25 years, but as a way of creating goodwill in a community where Nintendo is often criticized for being less than generous.

TechCrunch

They had practically no customers.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had practically given" to convey a sense of near-defeat or abandonment without complete relinquishment, often implying a last-minute change of heart or intervention.

Common error

Avoid using "had practically given" when the action was fully completed. This phrase is best suited for situations where there was a near miss, not an actual occurrence. If the action was completed, use "had given up" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had practically given" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of near-completion regarding the act of giving up. It suggests that someone was very close to surrendering or abandoning something, as Ludwig AI confirms.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had practically given" is a verb phrase used to describe a situation where someone was very close to giving up or surrendering but didn't fully commit to that action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its use is most frequent in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the abandonment wasn't fully completed. Consider alternatives like "had nearly surrendered" or "had almost given up" for variety. Remember that "had practically given" is best employed when the situation was nearly, but not entirely, relinquished.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had virtually abandoned

Implies a near complete cessation of effort or hope, suggesting a strong sense of abandonment.

had all but surrendered

Emphasizes the imminence of surrender, indicating that only a small obstacle remained.

had nearly relinquished

Focuses on the act of letting go of something, whether physical or abstract.

had almost forsaken

Suggests a complete abandonment, often with negative connotations of betrayal or neglect.

had effectively quit

Highlights the result of giving up, focusing on the practical outcome of quitting.

had come close to abandoning

Emphasizes the proximity to the act of abandoning, indicating a strong temptation to give up.

had entertained giving up

Focuses on the consideration of giving up, rather than the action itself.

had considered relinquishing

Highlights the thought process of potentially relinquishing something.

had thought about surrendering

Emphasizes the mental contemplation of surrendering, rather than the physical act.

had debated abandoning

Suggests a period of internal conflict about whether to abandon something.

FAQs

How can I use "had practically given" in a sentence?

Use "had practically given" to indicate that someone was very close to giving up or surrendering. For example, "After months of searching, they "had practically given" up hope of finding their lost pet".

What's a less formal way to say "had practically given"?

Informally, you might say someone "was about to give up" or "was on the verge of quitting". For example, "He "was about to give up" when he found the solution".

How does "had practically given" differ from "had completely given up"?

"Had practically given" suggests an action was close to happening but didn't fully occur, while "had completely given up" indicates a finished action. The former implies a possibility of reversal that the latter excludes.

What are some alternatives to "had practically given" that still imply near-surrender?

Consider using phrases like "had nearly surrendered", "had all but abandoned", or "had virtually abandoned". These alternatives maintain the sense of being on the brink of giving up.