concede
B2Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To admit that something is true or valid after first denying or resisting it; to surrender or yield.
To grant a right, privilege, or point in an argument, competition, or negotiation; to acknowledge defeat or the superiority of another.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a reluctant or forced admission after a period of resistance. Carries a nuance of defeat or giving up something (a point, a game, territory).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Minor differences may appear in collocational preferences in sports commentary.
Connotations
Equally formal in both varieties. In political contexts, may carry a slightly stronger connotation of public defeat in US English.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in sports and political journalism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
concede (that) + clauseconcede + nounconcede + noun + to + personconcede + to + verb (less common)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “concede ground”
- “too quick to concede”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in negotiations: 'The supplier conceded a 5% discount after lengthy talks.'
Academic
Used in argumentation: 'The author concedes the limitations of the methodology.'
Everyday
Used in disagreements: 'Alright, I concede. You were right about the film's ending.'
Technical
Rare in pure technical fields; used in legal contexts: 'The defendant conceded the factual allegations.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team had to concede the match due to injuries.
- He conceded that the new policy had some merit.
- The government conceded several key points to the opposition.
American English
- The candidate conceded the race before all votes were counted.
- I concede that your plan might work better.
- The company conceded to union demands after the strike.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I concede. You win the game.
- He conceded the goal to the other team.
- After seeing the evidence, she conceded her mistake.
- The boxer refused to concede defeat.
- The negotiator was unwilling to concede any further ground on the central issue.
- Historians concede that the theory, while flawed, was influential.
- The incumbent president gracefully conceded the election, ensuring a peaceful transition of power.
- While defending her thesis, she adeptly conceded minor criticisms to strengthen her overall argument.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CONCEDE' as 'CON' (with) + 'CEDE' (to yield). You yield or give in WITH someone else's point.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARGUMENT IS WAR (conceding defeat, surrendering a point, losing ground).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'conceive' (зачать, представить).
- Do not translate as 'conclude' (заключать).
- Closest equivalent is 'признавать (поражение/правоту)' or 'уступать'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I conceded to his opinion.' (Better: 'I conceded his point' or 'I conceded that he was right.')
- Incorrect: 'He conceded me the victory.' (Correct: 'He conceded victory to me.' or 'He conceded defeat to me.')
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'concede' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always losing, but it always involves yielding or granting something (a point, a right, an argument) that was previously contested. It implies a shift from a position of resistance.
'Concede' implies reluctance and often follows debate or competition. 'Admit' is more general for acknowledging truth. 'Confess' is typically used for admitting faults, sins, or crimes, often with a sense of guilt.
Yes, it can be seen positively as an act of grace, honesty, or good sportsmanship, e.g., 'conceding graciously' or 'conceding a valid point' to move a discussion forward.
This pattern ('concede to + verb') is less common and can sound awkward. It's more standard to use 'concede that' or 'concede + noun' (e.g., 'He conceded the need to act' is better than 'He conceded to act').