Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense surrenders, present participle surrendering, past tense, past participle surrendered
1. verb
If you surrender, you stop fighting or resisting someone and agree that you have been beaten.
He called on the rebels to surrender. [VERB]
She surrendered to the police in London last December. [VERB + to]
Surrender is also a noun.
...the government's apparent surrender to demands made by the religious militants. [+ to]
2. verb
If you surrender something you would rather keep, you give it up or let someone else have it, for example after a struggle.
Nadja had to fill out forms surrendering all rights to her property. [VERB noun]
They had little choice but to surrender their weapons to the government's forces. [VERB noun to noun]
Synonyms: give up, abandon, relinquish, resign More Synonyms of surrender
Surrender is also a noun.
...the sixteen-day deadline for the surrender of weapons and ammunition. [+ of]
3. verb
If you surrender something such as a ticket or your passport, you give it to someone in authority when they ask you to.
[formal]
They have been ordered to surrender their passports. [VERB noun]
4. uncountable noun [also aN, oft Nto n]
You use surrender to refer to someone's attitude or behaviour when they lose the will to resist their feelings or the demands of other people.
[literary]
Depression is a partial surrender to death.
A look of disbelief came into his eyes, but was quickly replaced by one of dismalsurrender.
More Synonyms of surrender
surrender in British English
(səˈrɛndə)
verb
1. (transitive)
to relinquish to the control or possession of another under duress or on demand
to surrender a city
2. (transitive)
to relinquish or forego (an office, position, etc), esp as a voluntary concession to another
he surrendered his place to a lady
3.
to give (oneself) up physically, as or as if to an enemy
4.
to allow (oneself) to yield, as to a temptation, influence, etc
5. (transitive)
to give up (hope, etc)
6. (transitive) law
to give up or restore (an estate), esp to give up a lease before expiration of the term
7. (transitive) obsolete
to return or render (thanks, etc)
8. surrender to bail
noun
9.
the act or instance of surrendering
10. insurance
the voluntary discontinuation of a life policy by its holder in return for a consideration (the surrender value)
11. law
a.
the yielding up or restoring of an estate, esp the giving up of a lease before itsterm has expired
b.
the giving up to the appropriate authority of a fugitive from justice
c.
the act of surrendering or being surrendered to bail
d.
the deed by which a legal surrender is effected
Derived forms
surrenderer (surˈrenderer)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Old French surrendre to yield, from sur-1 + rendre to render
surrender in American English
(səˈrɛndər)
verb transitive
1.
to give up possession of or power over; yield to another on demand or compulsion
2.
to give up claim to; give over or yield, esp. voluntarily, as in favor of another
3.
to give up or abandon
surrendering all hope
4.
to yield or resign (oneself) to an emotion, influence, etc.
verb intransitive
5.
to give oneself up to another's power or control, esp. as a prisoner
6.
to give in (to)
to surrender to temptation
noun
7.
the act of surrendering, yielding, or giving up, over, or in
8. Insurance
the voluntary abandonment of a policy by an insured person in return for a cash payment (surrender value), thus freeing the company of liability
Word origin
ME surrendren < MFr surrendre < sur-, up (see sur-1) + rendre, to render
surrender in Finance
(sərɛndər)
Word forms: (present) surrenders, (past) surrendered, (perfect) surrendered, (progressive) surrendering
verb
(Finance: Investment)
If you surrender an investment such as an insurance policy, you cash it out before maturity at a penalty.
The insurer pays the insured the cash value which the policy has built up if it is surrendered.
Both companies' stocks are surrendered and new company stock is issued in its place.
If you surrender an investment such as an insurance policy, you cash it out before maturity at a penalty.
surrender in Insurance1
(sərɛndər)
Word forms: (present) surrenders, (past) surrendered, (perfect) surrendered, (progressive) surrendering
verb
(Insurance: Life insurance)
If you surrender an endowment or other life policy, you terminate it before the agreed maturity date.
A fee is charged to a policyholder when a life insurance policy or annuity is surrendered for its cash value.
If the policy is surrendered before maturity, the insurance company then pays the policyholder the current cashvalue.
If you surrender an endowment or other life policy, you terminate it before the agreed maturity date.
surrender in Insurance2
(sərɛndər)
noun
(Insurance: Life insurance)
The surrender of an endowment or other life policy is the situation when the policyholder decides to terminate it before its maturity date in return for a fee.
Policy proceeds will be paid on a life insurance policy at death or when the insuredreceives payment at surrender or maturity.
The total policy loan plus unpaid interest will be subtracted from policy proceedsif the loan is outstanding at the time of death or surrender of the policy.
The surrender of an endowment or other life policy is the situation when the policyholder decidesto terminate it before its maturity date in return for a fee.
surrender value
Examples of 'surrender' in a sentence
surrender
Do be prepared to surrender control and overlook cultural differences in hygiene.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
How do you lead when the enemy refuses to surrender?
Christianity Today (2000)
The invaders quickly surrendered and were held as prisoners of war.
The Sun (2007)
He surrendered his own life to save colleagues.
The Sun (2006)
Voucher can only be used once and must be surrendered upon use.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Find out what the surrender value is and the expected maturity value.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It is impossible to suppose a whole squadron killed without one man surrendering.
Andrew Roberts, Series edited by Lisa Jardine and Amanda Foreman WATERLOO: Napoleon's Last Gamble (2005)
He was also forced to surrender his passport.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
When attacking a city they first demanded surrender.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Surely it is unwise to surrender any endowment policy?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They do not attain such a total surrender of consciousness.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Five surrendered to bail at the airport.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Delighted by such courtesy, the envoys readily agreed to the terms of surrender that were proposed.
Jonathan Wright Ambassadors: From Ancient Greece to the Nation State (2006)
What powers can it realistically reclaim having surrendered control of the club structure in 1992?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
ARSENAL are not losing games but surrendered the lead because they have already drawn 10 times in the league.
The Sun (2008)
He said: 'We would be surrendering our influence for minimum benefit.
The Sun (2010)
But when it came, Bristol promptly surrendered the lead.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Fifth, if this should happen to you, the best thing to do is to surrender quickly.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Rather, they become battlefields for these groups, each of them fighting for absolute victory and not content with anything but total surrender of the enemy.
Peter F. Drucker THE ESSENTIAL DRUCKER (2001)
In other languages
surrender
British English: surrender /səˈrɛndə/ VERB
If you surrender, you stop fighting or resisting someone and agree that you have been beaten.
He called on the rebels to surrender.
American English: surrender
Arabic: يُسَلِّمُ
Brazilian Portuguese: render-se
Chinese: 投降
Croatian: predati se
Czech: vzdát se v boji
Danish: overgive (sig)
Dutch: overgeven (zich)
European Spanish: rendirse
Finnish: antautua
French: se rendre capituler
German: ergeben (sich)
Greek: παραδίνομαι
Italian: arrendersi
Japanese: 降伏する
Korean: 항복하다
Norwegian: overgi (seg)
Polish: poddać
European Portuguese: render-se
Romanian: a se preda
Russian: сдаваться
Latin American Spanish: rendirse
Swedish: ge upp
Thai: ยอมแพ้
Turkish: teslim olmak
Ukrainian: здаватися
Vietnamese: đầu hàng
Chinese translation of 'surrender'
surrender
(səˈrɛndəʳ)
n
(c/u) (= act) 投降 (tóuxiáng)
(u)[of weapons]交出 (jiāochū)
vi
投降 (tóuxiáng)
vt
[weapons, territory]交出 (jiāochū)
[claim, right]放弃(棄) (fàngqì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to give in to a temptation or an influence
We'll never surrender to the terrorists.
Synonyms
give in
My parents gave in and let me go to the camp.
yield
She yielded to general pressure.
submit
If I submitted to their demands, they would not press the allegations.
give way
quit
He figured he would quit his job before he was fired.
succumb
cave in (informal)
capitulate
The club eventually capitulated and granted equal rights to women.
throw in the towel
lay down arms
give yourself up
show the white flag
Opposites
fight (on)
,
oppose
,
resist
,
defy
,
withstand
,
stand up to
,
make a stand against
2 (verb)
Definition
to give (something) up voluntarily to another
She had to surrender all rights to her property.
Synonyms
give up
After a few attempts he gave up.
abandon
They were persuaded to abandon their lawsuit.
relinquish
He does not intend to relinquish power.
resign
He has resigned his seat in parliament.
yield
He may yield control.
concede
The government has never conceded that territory to the rebels.
part with
renounce
He renounced his claim to the throne.
waive
He pled guilty to the charges and waived his right to appeal.
forgo
The men would not forgo the chance of a feast.
cede
The General had promised to cede power by January.
deliver up
1 (noun)
Definition
the act or instance of surrendering
the unconditional surrender of the rebels
Synonyms
submission
The army intends to take the city or force it into submission.
yielding
cave-in (informal)
capitulation
They criticised the government decision as a capitulation to pressure groups.
resignation
He has withdrawn his letter of resignation.
renunciation
the renunciation of territory
relinquishment
2 (noun)
Definition
the act or instance of surrendering
a complete surrender of weapons
Synonyms
relinquishment
giving up
handing over
transfer
surrendering
forsaking
ceding
abdication
There had been a complete abdication of responsibility.
renunciation
yielding up
forgoing
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abandon
They were persuaded to abandon their lawsuit.
Synonyms
give up,
resign from,
yield,
surrender,
relinquish,
renounce,
waive,
cede,
forgo,
abdicate
in the sense of abdication
There had been a complete abdication of responsibility.
Synonyms
renunciation,
giving up,
surrender,
abandonment,
waiver,
abnegation,
relinquishment
in the sense of capitulate
Definition
to surrender under agreed conditions
The club eventually capitulated and granted equal rights to women.
Synonyms
give in,
yield,
concede,
submit,
surrender,
comply,
give up,
come to terms,
succumb,
cave in (informal),
relent
Synonyms of 'surrender'
surrender
Explore 'surrender' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of capitulation
They criticised the government decision as a capitulation to pressure groups.
Synonyms
surrender,
yielding,
submission,
cave-in (informal),
accedence
in the sense of cede
Definition
to transfer or surrender (territory or legal rights)
The General had promised to cede power by January.
Synonyms
surrender,
grant,
transfer,
abandon,
yield,
concede,
hand over,
relinquish,
renounce,
make over,
abdicate
in the sense of concede
Definition
to give up or grant (something, such as a right)
The government has never conceded that territory to the rebels.
Synonyms
give up,
yield,
hand over,
surrender,
relinquish,
cede
in the sense of forgo
Definition
to give up or do without
The men would not forgo the chance of a feast.
Synonyms
give up,
sacrifice,
surrender,
do without,
kick (informal),
abandon,
resign,
yield,
relinquish,
renounce,
waive,
say goodbye to,
cede,
abjure,
leave alone or out
in the sense of quit
Definition
to resign (from)
He figured he would quit his job before he was fired.
Synonyms
resign (from),
leave,
retire (from),
pull out (of),
surrender,
chuck (informal),
step down (from) (informal),
relinquish,
renounce,
pack in (informal),
abdicate
in the sense of relinquish
Definition
to renounce (a claim or right)
He does not intend to relinquish power.
Synonyms
give up,
leave,
release,
drop,
abandon,
resign,
desert,
quit,
yield,
hand over,
surrender,
withdraw from,
let go,
retire from,
renounce,
waive,
vacate,
say goodbye to,
forsake,
cede,
repudiate,
cast off,
forgo,
abdicate,
kiss (something) goodbye,
lay aside
in the sense of renounce
Definition
to give up formally (a claim or right)
He renounced his claim to the throne.
Synonyms
disclaim,
deny,
decline,
give up,
resign,
relinquish,
waive,
renege,
forgo,
abdicate,
abjure,
abnegate
in the sense of renunciation
Definition
a formal declaration renouncing something
the renunciation of territory
Synonyms
giving up,
resignation,
surrender,
waiver,
disclaimer,
abdication,
relinquishment,
abjuration
in the sense of resign
Definition
to give up (a right or claim)
He has resigned his seat in parliament.
Synonyms
give up,
abandon,
yield,
hand over,
surrender,
turn over,
relinquish,
renounce,
forsake,
cede,
forgo
in the sense of resignation
Definition
the act of resigning
He has withdrawn his letter of resignation.
Synonyms
leaving,
notice,
retirement,
departure,
surrender,
abandonment,
abdication,
renunciation,
relinquishment
Additional synonyms
in the sense of submit
Definition
to accept the will of another person or a superior force
If I submitted to their demands, they would not press the allegations.
Synonyms
surrender,
yield,
give in,
agree,
bend,
bow,
endure,
tolerate,
comply,
put up with (informal),
succumb,
defer,
stoop,
cave in (informal),
capitulate,
accede,
acquiesce,
toe the line,
knuckle under,
resign yourself,
lay down arms,
hoist the white flag,
throw in the sponge
in the sense of waive
Definition
to refrain from enforcing or claiming (a rule or right)
He pled guilty to the charges and waived his right to appeal.
Synonyms
give up,
relinquish,
renounce,
forsake,
drop,
abandon,
resign,
yield,
surrender,
set aside,
dispense with,
cede,
forgo
in the sense of yield
Definition
to give way, submit, or surrender, through force or persuasion