capitulate
Americanverb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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capitulatesimple
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capitulatessimple
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have capitulatedperfect
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has capitulatedperfect
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am capitulatingprogressive
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are capitulatingprogressive
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is capitulatingprogressive
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have been capitulatingperfect progressive
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has been capitulatingperfect progressive
Past
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capitulatedsimple
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had capitulatedperfect
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was capitulatingprogressive
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were capitulatingprogressive
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had been capitulatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of capitulate
First recorded in 1570–80; from Medieval Latin capitulātus (past participle of capitulāre “to draw up in sections”), equivalent to capitul(um) “section,” literally, “small head” + -ātus ; see origin at capitulum, chapter ( def. ), -ate 1
Explanation
To capitulate means to give in to something. If your parents refuse to raise your allowance, you might try to argue until they capitulate. Good luck! To capitulate is to surrender outright or to give in under certain terms. Either way, you’re agreeing to something you don’t really want. The word comes from the Latin roots caput ("head") and capitulum ("headings"), a reference to the official agreement drawn up when someone formally surrendered.
Vocabulary lists containing capitulate
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But litigation and regulatory investigations are costly, and a lot of companies, corporate parents, make the decision that it is actually less painful to settle and to capitulate than it is to fight.
From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026
“Iran will be forced to capitulate at some point,” writes BCA Research Chief Strategist Marko Papic.
From Barron's ● Mar. 16, 2026
He told his team that Tehran would likely capitulate before closing the strait—and even if Iran tried, the U.S. military could handle it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 2026
Some of Silverstein’s critics accused him of using frivolous lawsuits as a delaying tactic, forcing real estate developers to capitulate or risk huge financial losses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2025
In reality, as he saw now, he had been ready to capitulate long before he had taken the decision.
From "1984" by George Orwell
In his October memo, “Three Tough Truths About Climate,” Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates capitulates, admitting, “It will not lead to humanity’s demise.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 22, 2026
It takes both sides to end a war, unless an opponent capitulates.
From Barron's ● Mar. 18, 2026
At one end of that continuum is “accommodation,” Reyes said, when a company apologizes unequivocally or capitulates fully to employee-activist demands.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2021
After some arguing, Jo finally capitulates and agrees to give her heroine a traditional happily-ever-after ending, but only for the sake of pleasing the audience.
From Slate ● Dec. 25, 2019
But after arguing with Gauguin for weeks, he finally capitulates.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
During his eight years as a Laker there seemed to be countless occasions when Lakers brass capitulated to his “demands.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 4, 2026
The 28-year-old capitulated from a set and 4-1 up in her quarter-final against Diana Shnaider before losing the deciding set 6-0 in a match that she joked made her want to quit tennis.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
Only one sued state – Oklahoma – has thus far capitulated to the DOJ.
From Salon ● Apr. 3, 2026
They capitulated to Pakistan in Lahore by 22 runs, then 90 and lastly by a crushing 111 -- their heaviest-ever T20 defeat.
From Barron's ● Feb. 6, 2026
Kid Sampson resisted doubtfully for another moment and then capitulated eagerly with a triumphant whoop.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
The good news is that Disney is not capitulating.
From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026
The market has absorbed more than its fair share without capitulating.
From Barron's ● Mar. 6, 2026
European officials are searching for ways to respond to the president without escalating the situation into a broader trade spat or capitulating on security in the face of his trade threats.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 19, 2026
But if he’s a bear who’s capitulating, that’s another ominous sign.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 14, 2025
Even more strongly than Walter, he felt that by initiating talks it would appear that we were capitulating.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
