surrender

[ suh-ren-der ]

/ səˈrɛn dər /

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verb (used with object)

to yield (something) to the possession or power of another; deliver up possession of on demand or under duress: to surrender the fort to the enemy; to surrender the stolen goods to the police.

to give (oneself) up, as to the police.

to give (oneself) up to some influence, course, emotion, etc.: He surrendered himself to a life of hardship.

to give up, abandon, or relinquish (comfort, hope, etc.).

to yield or resign (an office, privilege, etc.) in favor of another.

verb (used without object)

to give oneself up, as into the power of another; submit or yield.

noun

the act or an instance of surrendering.

Insurance. the voluntary abandonment of a life-insurance policy by the owner for any of its nonforfeiture values.

the deed by which a legal surrendering is made.

Nearby words

surrealism, surrealistic, surrebuttal, surrebutter, surrejoinder, surrender, surrender value, surreptitious, surrey, surrogacy, surrogate

Origin of surrender

1425–75; (v.) late Middle English surrendren < Anglo-French surrender, Old French surrendre to give up, equivalent to sur- sur-¹ + rendre to render¹; (noun) < Anglo-French; Old French surrendre, noun use of the infinitive

SYNONYMS FOR surrender

4 renounce.

5 waive, cede, abandon, forgo.

6 capitulate.

7 capitulation, relinquishment.

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Related forms

sur·ren·der·er, nounnon·sur·ren·der, nounpre·sur·ren·der, nounpro·sur·ren·der, adjective

un·sur·ren·dered, adjectiveun·sur·ren·der·ing, adjective

Synonym study

1. See yield.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for surrender

It is the summit of human happiness: the surrender of man to God, of woman to man, of several women to the same man.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President|Pierre Assouline|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The indicted are not going to show up at the federal courthouse in Pittsburgh to surrender to federal marshals.
Sony Blames North Korea for Hacking, but Washington Left Them Completely Vulnerable|Gordon G. Chang|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The question then comes down to what version will the grand jury believe: Was Brown trying to surrender when shot?
Why Darren Wilson Will Walk|Dean Obeidallah|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Buddhist and Hindu literature is rich with stories of disciples finally learning to surrender in this way.
Is India’s Fallen ‘God-Man’ So Different From a Megachurch Pastor?|Jay Michaelson|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

At 15, she developed iliotibial band syndrome, injuring her knee, and had to surrender her dream.
The Making of Kiesza: From Navy Sharpshooter to Beauty Queen to Pop Diva|Marlow Stern|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the morning, when the Americans had paraded to surrender, tears were seen coursing down the cheeks of Gen. Moultrie.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion|William Dobein James
Few are aware of what has taken place, or know that their surrender had been agreed to by M. Jules Favre.
Diary of the Besieged Resident in Paris|Henry Labouchre
Charleston, after a forty days' siege, was forced to surrender.
Comic History of the United States|Bill Nye
And the Countess had to surrender, with an implication that it was the only course open in dealing with a lunatic.
When Ghost Meets Ghost|William Frend De Morgan
Preston appears also singlehanded to have climbed the wall of the Tower, and have summoned the guard to surrender.
A History of England, Period III.|Rev. J. Franck Bright

British Dictionary definitions for surrender

surrender

/ (səˈrɛndə) /

verb

(tr) to relinquish to the control or possession of another under duress or on demandto surrender a city

(tr) to relinquish or forego (an office, position, etc), esp as a voluntary concession to anotherhe surrendered his place to a lady

to give (oneself) up physically, as or as if to an enemy

to allow (oneself) to yield, as to a temptation, influence, etc

(tr) to give up (hope, etc)

(tr) law to give up or restore (an estate), esp to give up a lease before expiration of the term

(tr) obsolete to return or render (thanks, etc)

surrender to bail to present oneself at court at the appointed time after having been on bail

noun

the act or instance of surrendering

insurance the voluntary discontinuation of a life policy by its holder in return for a consideration (the surrender value)

law

the yielding up or restoring of an estate, esp the giving up of a lease before its term has expired
the giving up to the appropriate authority of a fugitive from justice
the act of surrendering or being surrendered to bail
the deed by which a legal surrender is effected

Derived Forms

surrenderer, noun

Word Origin for surrender

C15: from Old French surrendre to yield, from sur- 1 + rendre to render

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

surrender

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of surrender

SYNONYMS FOR surrender

Related forms

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for surrender

British Dictionary definitions for surrender

surrender

verb

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for surrender