concede

American  

[kuhn-seed] / kənˈsid /

verb (used with object)

conceded, conceding

1. to acknowledge as true, just, or proper; admit.

   He finally conceded that she was right.

   Synonyms:

   grant

   Antonyms:

   deny

2. to acknowledge (an opponent's victory, score, etc.) before it is officially established.

   to concede an election before all the votes are counted.

3. to grant as a right or privilege; yield.

   to concede a longer vacation for all employees.

   Antonyms:

   refuse

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verb (used without object)

conceded, conceding

1. to make a concession; yield to pressure or circumstances; admit defeat.

   She was so persistent that I conceded at last.

   My favorite candidate conceded before the polls were even closed!

concede British  

/ kənˈsiːd /

verb

1. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to admit or acknowledge (something) as true or correct

2. to yield or allow (something, such as a right)

3. (tr) to admit as certain in outcome

   to concede an election

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Other Word Forms

• concededly adverb
• conceder noun
• concessible adjective
• preconcede verb (used with object)
• unconceding adjective

Etymology

Origin of concede

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin concēdere, equivalent to con- con- + cēdere “to withdraw, yield”; cede

Explanation

If you concede something, you admit that it is true, proper, or certain — usually in an unwilling way and often in the context of a competition, as in "At midnight, the candidate finally conceded defeat." In its most common senses, a near synonym of concede is acknowledge — if your mom is pointing out that you need sleep before the test, you should concede the truth of what she's saying. But another meaning of concede is to give away or grant something, as when an unpopular leader is unwilling to concede power. Concede is from Latin concēdere, from the prefix com-, "completely," plus cēdere, "to go along, grant, yield." The corresponding noun is concession.

Example Sentences

Experts concede the high cost of buying and living in these developments prevents some retirees from being able to afford them.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

She did concede, however, that the fictitious citations “‘may have’ come from her use of AI tools,” Buchanan noted.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

It led a senior House Democrat, Virginia’s Don Beyer, to concede the tactic isn’t forcing any change and “in the meantime, we’re making people hurt.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

"I do concede in hindsight, if a sample of head hair had been taken, if nothing else, would have at least alleviated some of the fears of the families," he said.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

He had to concede that if asked, he would have most definitely said no.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

Related Words

• accept
• admit
• allow
• capitulate
• cave in
• cede
• confess
• give up
• grant
• hand over
• quit
• relinquish
• surrender
• yield