surrender

[ suh-ren-der ]
See synonyms for: surrendersurrendering on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. 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.

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

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

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

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

verb (used without object)
  1. to give oneself up, as into the power of another; submit or yield.

noun
  1. the act or an instance of surrendering.

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

  1. the deed by which a legal surrendering is made.

Origin of surrender

1
First recorded in 1425–75; (for the verb) late Middle English surrendren, from Anglo-French surrender, Old French surrendre “to give up,” from sur- sur-1 + rendre “to render” (see render1 ); (for the noun) from Anglo-French; Old French surrendre, noun use of the infinitive

synonym study For surrender

1. See yield.

Other words for surrender

Other words from surrender

  • sur·ren·der·er, noun
  • non·sur·ren·der, noun
  • pre·sur·ren·der, noun
  • pro·sur·ren·der, adjective
  • un·sur·ren·dered, adjective
  • un·sur·ren·der·ing, adjective

Words Nearby surrender

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use surrender in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for surrender

surrender

/ (səˈrɛndə) /


verb
  1. (tr) to relinquish to the control or possession of another under duress or on demand: to surrender a city

  2. (tr) to relinquish or forego (an office, position, etc), esp as a voluntary concession to another: he surrendered his place to a lady

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

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

  3. (tr) to give up (hope, etc)

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

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

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

noun
  1. the act or instance of surrendering

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

  1. 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

Origin of surrender

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

Derived forms of surrender

  • surrenderer, noun

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