Conceded
/kənˈsiːdɪd/
verbB2past tense
Definition
To concede means to say that you agree with something or accept it, usually after some argument or when you realize you cannot win. People often concede in discussions, competitions, or debates when they admit defeat or agree with a point.
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⚡ See It in Action
To admit that something is true or correct, often after initial denial
- •After a long debate, she finally conceded that her opponent had a good point.
- •The company conceded that their product had some problems.
- •He conceded the mistake and apologized.
To admit defeat or loss in a competition or argument
- •The player conceded the match after losing the final point.
- •The politician conceded the election to his opponent.
- •After hours of negotiation, they conceded the contract to the other side.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "conceded" like "gave up," but with a polite or formal meaning—it means you accept something after thinking about it.
- ✓Picture a game where one player raises their hand to show they lost and accept the other player’s win.
- ✓It’s the feeling when you say, "Okay, you are right," even if you didn’t want to say it at first.
- ✓Sounds like "con-SEE-did" → imagine someone seeing the truth clearly and then accepting it.
- ✓In stories, a character might concede after a long fight, showing respect to the winner.
- ✓NOT like "win" (you accept loss), "concede" means you allow or admit something, often after resistance.
- ✓NOT like "agree" (which can be easy and friendly), "concede" often happens after some struggle or doubt.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Admitted: accepted something as true (Use when focusing on accepting facts rather than losing)
- •Yielded: gave way or allowed something to happen (Use when emphasizing giving in or surrendering)
- •Surrendered: gave up control or power (Use when focusing on defeat or loss, often stronger than conceded)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Prefix "con-" means "with" or "together"
- •Root "cede" comes from Latin "cedere," meaning "to go" or "to yield"
- •Originally meant to give way or allow something to happen
- •Over time, it came to mean admitting something or accepting defeat, often after argument or competition
- •Today, used in formal speech for admitting facts or defeat politely
💭 Reflect & Connect
•When is it better to concede in a conversation, and when should you keep your position?
•How does conceding affect relationships or competitions—does it show weakness or strength?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She conceded ___ the point after hearing strong evidence from the other side.
2.The team conceded ___ the game only in the last few minutes.
3.Politicians often concede ___ to avoid long disputes after elections.
4.He conceded ___ his mistake even though it was hard to admit.
5.When someone concedes ___, it usually means they accept loss or defeat.
6.They refused to concede ___, holding to their original opinion strongly.
7.After hours of debate, she finally conceded ___ was the better argument.