concede
verb /kənˈsiːd/
/kənˈsiːd/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they concede | /kənˈsiːd/ /kənˈsiːd/ |
| he / she / it concedes | /kənˈsiːdz/ /kənˈsiːdz/ |
| past simple conceded | /kənˈsiːdɪd/ /kənˈsiːdɪd/ |
| past participle conceded | /kənˈsiːdɪd/ /kənˈsiːdɪd/ |
| -ing form conceding | /kənˈsiːdɪŋ/ /kənˈsiːdɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] to admit that something is true, logical, etc. after first denying it or resisting it
- + speech ‘Not bad,’ she conceded grudgingly.
- concede (that)… He was forced to concede (that) there might be difficulties.
- concede something I had to concede the logic of this.
- concede something to somebody He reluctantly conceded the point to me.
- concede somebody something He reluctantly conceded me the point.
- it is conceded that… It must be conceded that different judges have different approaches to these cases.
Synonyms admitadmit- acknowledge
- recognize
- concede
- confess
- admit to agree, often unwillingly, that something is true:
- It was a stupid thing to do, I admit.
- acknowledge (rather formal) to accept that something exists, is true or has happened:
- She refuses to acknowledge the need for reform.
- recognize to admit or be aware that something exists or is true:
- They recognized the need to take the problem seriously.
- concede (rather formal) to admit, often unwillingly, that something is true or logical:
- He was forced to concede (that) there might be difficulties.
- confess (rather formal) to admit something that you feel ashamed or embarrassed about; to admit, especially formally or to the police, that you have done something wrong or illegal:
- She was reluctant to confess her ignorance.
- He confessed to the murder.
- to admit/acknowledge/recognize/concede/confess that…
- to admit/confess to something
- to admit/concede/confess something to somebody
- to admit/acknowledge/recognize the truth
- to admit/confess your mistakes/ignorance
Express Yourself Conceding a pointConceding a pointWhen you want to show that the other person has convinced you with their argument, at least partially, you can concede:Topics Opinion and argumentc1- Yes, I suppose you're right.
- Yes, I guess you're right.
- Yes, I see what you mean.
- OK, I take/see your point about the expense, but I still think it's worth it.
- Well, I guess you've got a point there.
- OK, that’s a good point.
- No, possibly/I guess not.
- I suppose not.
- Well, yes, OK. I hadn't really appreciated/understood that before.
- Well, I can’t/won’t argue with that.
- That’s true. We’ll need to take that into consideration.
Extra Examples- He reluctantly conceded that he was not fit enough to play in the match.
- He was not prepared to concede that he had acted illegally.
- She readily concedes that there is much work still to be done.
- The company seems to be implicitly conceding that sales have been poor.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- eventually
- finally
- readily
- …
- be forced to
- be prepared to
- be willing to
- …
- to
- [intransitive, transitive] concede (defeat) to admit that you have lost a game, an election, etc.
- After losing this decisive battle, the general was forced to concede.
- Injury forced Hicks to concede defeat.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- eventually
- finally
- readily
- …
- be forced to
- be prepared to
- be willing to
- …
- to
- [transitive] to give something away, especially unwillingly; to allow somebody to have something
- concede something (to somebody) The president was obliged to concede power to the army.
- England conceded a goal immediately after half-time.
- concede somebody something Women were only conceded full voting rights in the 1950s.
- The firm should concede a significant salary increase to its employees.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- eventually
- finally
- readily
- …
- be forced to
- be prepared to
- be willing to
- …
- to
see also concession
Word Originlate 15th cent.: from French concéder or Latin concedere, from con- ‘completely’ + cedere ‘yield’.