What Does Give In Mean?
Give in has two main meanings.
- Stop resisting: you admit that the other side has won.
- Agree after being asked many times: you would rather say no, but you say yes.
The two teams argued for an hour. Then Leo gave in.
After forty questions, Dad finally gave in.
🗣️ Natural Examples
Stopping resisting:
I refused to give in to the wind and held on to my hat.
The runner was tired, but she did not give in.
Agreeing after being asked:
Mum finally gave in and let us stay up for the film.
Try not to give in to the snooze button.
My sister gave in and shared her biscuits.
✂️ Can You Separate It?
No. Give in is inseparable. Nothing goes in the middle.
✅ Leo gave in.
❌ Leo gave it in.
To say who or what you gave in to, add to.
✅ She gave in to her brother.
✅ He gave in to the pressure.
❌ She gave in her brother.
One British exception. In British English, give in can also mean to hand in homework. That meaning is separable: give your homework in, give it in.
🛠️ How to Use It
- Alone: In the end, he gave in.
- With "to": give in to + person or thing. Give in to a request.
- Past tense: gave in.
- Past participle: given in. She has given in.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Give in is not give up.
❌ I gave up to my brother.
✅ I gave in to my brother. (I let him win)
✅ I gave up the puzzle. (I stopped trying)
Do not forget "to".
❌ She gave in my request.
✅ She gave in to my request.
For the other one, see Give Up.
💬 In a Conversation
Sam: Did your dad give in about the puppy?
Mia: Not yet. I asked forty times.
Sam: Forty?
Mia: I am saving the forty-first for tomorrow.
💡 The OddLingo Trick
Picture a tug-of-war game. In give in, you stop pulling, and the rope slides to their side. You let the other team win.
In give up, you drop the rope and leave the game. You stop trying at all.
👯 Similar Expressions
- give up: to stop trying. See Give Up.
- admit defeat: the plain way to say it.
- hand in: to give homework to a teacher.