concede
verb
transitive verb
intransitive verb
Did you know?
Politics and Concede
After the votes have been counted, one candidate traditionally concedes the election to his or her opponent by giving a concession speech. If you're lucky, your boss will concede that she was wrong the last time she criticized you. But in the middle of an argument, we're not all so good at conceding that the other guy might have a good point.
Synonyms
- acknowledge
- admit
- agree
- allow
- confess
- fess (up)
- grant
- own (up to)
Example Sentences
Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, 2005 … it was generally conceded that Caepio, if and when tried for treason under the present system, would be acquitted. Colleen McCullough, The First Man in Rome, (1990) 1991 … after listening to Tom, he conceded that there were some conspicuous advantages about a life of crime, and so he consented to be a pirate. Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, 1876 I concede that the work has been slow so far, but it should speed up soon. “Your plan might work,” she conceded, “but I still think mine is better.” Although it seems clear that he has lost the election, he still refuses to concede. He's not ready to concede the election. The former ruler was forced to concede power to a new government. The company says that workers are not conceding enough in negotiations. See More Daniel D'addario, Variety, 8 Sep. 2022 Just a few minutes before midnight, Arroyo declined to concede, saying his campaign was still waiting for more than 15,000 ballots — largely early, mail-in ballots — to be counted. Danny Mcdonald, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 Those out of the title hunt aren’t willing to concede anything. Jenna Fryer, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2022 Those out of the title hunt aren't willing to concede anything. Jenna Fryer, ajc, 19 Aug. 2022 Some defense lawyers who are not associated with the case are willing to concede that saving money by dropping the death penalty is not a realistic option for the prosecution. Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2022 Taliban officials insist that safety has improved overall but concede that stopping suicide bombers is difficult. Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 But enforcement is on pause because officials concede the existing rules conflict with conservation efforts. Blake Apgar, The Salt Lake Tribune, 28 Aug. 2022 Droplets were initially deemed the cause of non-contact transmission of tuberculosis, measles, and chickenpox, and only after irrefutable proof would the scientific establishment concede the occurrence of aerosol transmission. Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, 26 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
French or Latin; French concéder, from Latin concedere, from com- + cedere to yield
1626, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2
Phrases Containing concede
Kids Definition
concede
verb
concede
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- admit
- confess
- acknowledge
- agree
- grant
- announce
- allow
- recognize
- disclose
- reveal
- accept
- confirm
- say
- tell
- affirm
- declare
- avow
- fess (up)
- proclaim
- come clean (about)
- own (up to)
- profess
- divulge
- unload
- publish
- warn
- yield
- inform
- betray
- expose
- talk
- communicate
- impart
- unveil
- spill
- disburden
- unburden
- whisper
- broadcast
- breathe
- tattle
- rat
- give away
- leak
- squeal
- break
- tip (off)
- blab
- wise (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- deny
- disclaim
- disavow
- contradict
- disallow
- reject
- refute
- dispute
- gainsay
- negate
- rebut
- negative
- repudiate
- hide
- conceal
- cover (up)
- disown
- obscure
- veil
- kid (oneself)
Synonyms & Similar Words
- succumb
- submit
- surrender
- capitulate
- relent
- budge
- bow
- acquiesce
- yield
- say uncle
- knuckle under
- quit
- give in
- blink
- defer
- throw in the sponge
- throw in the towel
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- resist
- contend
- fight
- oppose
- confront
- meet
- face
- object
- defy
- counter
- breast
- combat
- withstand
- hold off
- repel
- battle
- thwart
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of concede are accord, award, grant, and vouchsafe. While all these words mean "to give as a favor or a right," concede implies yielding something reluctantly in response to a rightful or compelling claim.
The synonyms accord and concede are sometimes interchangeable, but accord implies giving to another what is due or proper.
In some situations, the words award and concede are roughly equivalent. However, award implies giving what is deserved or merited usually after a careful weighing of pertinent factors.
The meanings of grant and concede largely overlap; however, grant implies giving to a claimant or petitioner something that could be withheld.
The words vouchsafe and concede can be used in similar contexts, but vouchsafe implies granting something as a courtesy or an act of gracious condescension.