we gave up

USAGE SUMMARY

"we gave up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation where someone has decided to stop trying to achieve something, usually after encountering difficulties. For example: "We tried for weeks to fix the problem, but eventually we gave up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We gave up.

The New York Times

We gave up on sleep.

The New York Times

"We gave up a lot.

The New York Times

So we gave up".

The Guardian

"And we gave up.

The Guardian

Despairing, we gave up.

The New York Times

"We gave up our summer for this".

The New Yorker

We gave up after an hour).

The New Yorker

We gave up too many touchdowns".

The New York Times - Sports

We gave up going to the office".

The New York Times

A few times we gave up.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone of "we gave up". It can imply defeat, resignation, or even strategic retreat. Choose it carefully to match the intended message.

Common error

Avoid using "we gave up" without clarifying what the "we" refers to and what exactly was relinquished. Lack of context can confuse the reader and weaken your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we gave up" functions as a declarative statement, expressing the action of ceasing effort or abandoning an attempt. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used. Ludwig examples show it appears in diverse contexts to indicate relinquishing a task.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sports

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we gave up" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the act of ceasing effort. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is widely used in various contexts, particularly in news, sports, and general conversation. While versatile, it is crucial to provide clear context to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "we surrendered" or "we quit" to fine-tune the message. Remember that the tone can imply defeat or resignation, so choose it carefully. Ludwig's examples showcase the phrase's broad applicability, emphasizing its role as a straightforward declaration of abandonment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we surrendered

This alternative directly replaces the act of giving up with the more definitive term of surrendering, often implying a more decisive end to the effort.

we quit

This alternative offers a more concise and direct way of saying "we gave up", suitable for informal contexts.

we stopped trying

This explicitly states the cessation of effort, clarifying that the act of giving up involved a prior attempt.

we abandoned the attempt

This phrase presents a more formal way of expressing that an attempt was relinquished.

we ceased our efforts

This offers a slightly more formal and emphatic way of saying "we gave up", highlighting the deliberate stopping of endeavors.

we relinquished our hope

This specifies that it was hope that was given up, adding an emotional dimension to the act.

we sacrificed

This implies giving up something valuable for a specific reason or goal.

we yielded

This suggests giving way to something, often implying defeat or submission.

we backed down

This suggests retreating from a confrontation or challenge.

we let go

This implies releasing something, whether it be a physical object, an idea, or an emotion.

FAQs

What does "we gave up" mean?

The phrase "we gave up" means that a group of people stopped trying to do something, often because it was too difficult or they lost hope.

How can I use "we gave up" in a sentence?

You can use "we gave up" to describe a situation where a collective effort was abandoned. For example, "We tried to fix the car, but "we gave up" after several hours".

What are some alternatives to "we gave up"?

Some alternatives to "we gave up" include "we surrendered", "we quit", or "we stopped trying". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "we gave up" formal or informal?

"We gave up" is generally considered to be neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives might be preferred in certain situations.