concedeverb
uk/kənˈsiːd/us/kənˈsiːd/concede verb (ADMIT)
C2 [ T ] to admit, often unwillingly, that something is true:
[ + (that) ] The government has conceded (that) the new tax policy has been a disaster.
[ + speech ] "Well okay, perhaps I was a little hard on her," he conceded.
See also
concession
[ I or T ] to admit that you have lost in a competition:
He kept on arguing and wouldn't concede defeat.
She conceded even before all the votes had been counted.
More examples
- She conceded defeat well before all the votes had been counted.
- Hysen handled the ball and conceded the penalty that gave Manchester United the lead.
- Clinton conceded, "We bit off more than we could chew in our original healthcare reform proposals."
- He conceded that he had been a little harsh.
- Reluctantly she conceded that their idea was better.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Admitting & confessing
- acknowledge
- acknowledgment
- admit
- admittedly
- avow
- back down
- climb
- come clean idiom
- concessionary
- eat
- eat your words idiom
- hand
- I stand corrected idiom
- make a clean breast of it idiom
- own up
- retract
- say
- self-confessed
- swallow
- take sth back
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Losing and being defeated
concede verb (GIVE AWAY)
C2 [ T ] to allow someone to have something, even if you do not want to:
The president is not expected to concede these reforms.
He is not willing to concede any of his power/authority.
Britain conceded (= allowed) independence to India in 1947.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Accepting & agreeing reluctantly
- acquiescent
- bend to sth
- capitulate
- cave in
- come to heel idiom
- compromise
- condescend
- defer
- meet
- meet sb halfway idiom
- not take sth lying down idiom
- philosophical
- relent
- resign
- resort
- resort to sth
- sell
- surrender
- swallow
- trade
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concede a goal/point
to fail to stop an opposing team or person from winning a point or game:
The team conceded two goals (to the other side) in the first five minutes of the game.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Winning, losing & scoring in sport
- against the run of play idiom
- close-run
- do the double over sb idiom
- drubbing
- game changer
- game-changing
- hold
- lead 1
- pip
- pummel
- retire
- run away with sth
- sink
- square
- strike gold idiom
- varsity
- walkaway
- walkover
- win
- won
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Losing and being defeated