Cool MateWithdraw vs You give up on them
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Withdraw
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
You give up on them
Top 2,000 (common)
| Withdraw | You give up on them | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/wɪðˈdrɔː//wɪθˈdrɔː/","/wɪðˈdrɔːz//wɪθˈdrɔːz/","/wɪðˈdruː//wɪθˈdruː/","/wɪðˈdrɔːn//wɪθˈdrɔːn/","/wɪðˈdrɔːɪŋ//wɪθˈdrɔːɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/wɪðˈdrɔː//wɪθˈdrɔː/","/wɪðˈdrɔːz//wɪθˈdrɔːz/","/wɪðˈdruː//wɪθˈdruː/","/wɪðˈdrɔːn//wɪθˈdrɔːn/","/wɪðˈdrɔːɪŋ//wɪθˈdrɔːɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //juː ɡɪv ʌp ɒn ðɛm//🇺🇸 //juː ɡɪv ʌp ɑn ðɛm// |
| Meaning | To take back or remove something. | You stop trying to help or believe in them. |
| Example | She decided to withdraw her savings from the bank. | Sometimes, you just have to give up on them if they don't appreciate your efforts. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | altogether, completely, immediately, be forced to, be ordered to, threaten to, from, in favour/favor of, into, altogether, completely, immediately, be forced to, be ordered to, threaten to, from, in favour/favor of, into, altogether, completely, immediately, be forced to, be ordered to, threaten to, from, in favour/favor of, into | give up on someone, never give up on them, give up on a project, don’t give up on hope |
| Antonyms | deposit, add, contribute | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'wither' — remember, 'withdraw' is about taking away., Using 'withdraw' with an incorrect subject; you withdraw something, not 'withdraws'., 'Withdrew' is the past tense, but learners often forget the 'd'. | Confusing 'give up on' with just 'give up', which means to stop trying altogether without specifying the object., Using 'give up on' with nouns that can't be influenced, like 'it' instead of 'them'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'withdraw' when you want to say you are taking something away or not participating anymore. It's suitable in both formal and informal contexts, like withdrawing money from a bank or withdrawing from a competition. | Use this phrase in contexts where someone stops trying to support or help another person, often when they feel it is futile. It’s appropriate in both formal and informal settings, but tends to be more common in spoken English. |
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Frequently asked questions: Withdraw vs You give up on them
What's the difference between Withdraw and You give up on them?
Withdraw: To take back or remove something. You give up on them: You stop trying to help or believe in them.
Can you show an example of each?
Withdraw: She decided to withdraw her savings from the bank. You give up on them: Sometimes, you just have to give up on them if they don't appreciate your efforts.
Can I use Withdraw and You give up on them interchangeably?
Not always. Withdraw and You give up on them are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.