capitulate
Americanverb (used without object)
-
capitulates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
capitulated,
past participle, past
-
capitulating
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
capitulatesimple
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capitulatessimple
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have capitulatedperfect
-
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
-
was capitulatingprogressive
-
were capitulatingprogressive
-
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:
As an aging parent, you don’t have to capitulate to the demands of your adult children.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 12, 2026
It is clear that this is absolute harassment in order to get Disney to capitulate.
From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026
He added that it was unlikely the blockade alone would force the regime to rapidly capitulate in talks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
England capitulate to a damning eight-wicket defeat on day four of the second Test to give Australia a 2-0 lead in The Ashes.
From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2025
He kept her for some weeks, and then, seeing that she would not capitulate, sent her oil' to the coast in exile.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
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
It’s hard for a pastor to tell people they should prioritize church over other, often worthy activities if the pastor capitulates on Christmas Day of all days, said Mr. DeYoung.
From New York Times ● Dec. 18, 2022
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
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
No team in Premier League history has capitulated to that extent.
From BBC ● Apr. 11, 2026
Only one sued state – Oklahoma – has thus far capitulated to the DOJ.
From Salon ● Apr. 3, 2026
Baqaei responded Monday by saying that Iranians had never capitulated at any point in their history.
From Barron's ● Feb. 23, 2026
Virginia’s governor, Lindsay Almond capitulated in the fight over schools, reopening Norfolk, Charlottesville, and Front Royal schools in 1959 and inching toward integration: eighty-six black students in those districts now attended school with whites.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
Still without a win in their return to the Premier League, Reading threw away any joy their fans were feeling as they led Arsenal 4-0 by capitulating to lose 7-5.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
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
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
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
