surrender

[suh-ren-der]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR surrender ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

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

Related formssur·ren·der·er, nounnon·sur·ren·der, nounpre·sur·ren·der, nounpro·sur·ren·der, adjectiveun·sur·ren·dered, adjectiveun·sur·ren·der·ing, adjective

Synonyms for surrender

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR surrender ON THESAURUS.COM

4. renounce. 5. waive, cede, abandon, forgo. 6. capitulate. 7. capitulation, relinquishment.

Synonym study

1. See yield.

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

Related Words for surrender

abdication, submission, capitulation, abandonment, delivery, renunciation, acquiescence, relinquish, cede, renounce, waive, quit, yield, leave, concede, submit, abandon, commit, succumb, capitulate

Examples from the Web for surrender

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of surrender

The other two inscriptions, however, refused to surrender their secrets.
Ancient Man
Hendrik Willem van Loon
We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it; we will not surrender for it—now or ever.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
I have learned, and I know, that it will not surrender easily.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
We get "inside of" any classic work of literature only by this spirit of surrender.
Understanding the Scriptures
Francis McConnell
They were asked where were the rifles they had been ordered to surrender.
The Story of the Malakand Field Force
Sir Winston S. Churchill

British Dictionary definitions for surrender

surrender

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 Formssurrenderer, 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

Word Origin and History for surrender

early 15c., "to give (something) up," from Old French surrendre "give up, deliver over" (13c.), from sur- "over" (see sur-) + rendre "give back" (see render). Reflexive sense of "to give oneself up" (especially as a prisoner) is from 1580s. Related: Surrendered; surrendering.

early 15c., legalese, "a giving up" (of an estate, land grant, interest in property, etc.), from Anglo-French surrendre infinitive used as a noun, from Old French surrendre "give up, deliver over" (see surrender (v.)).