concede
/kənˈsiːd
/verb
1 [reporting verb] Admit or agree that something is true after first denying or resisting it: [with clause]: I had to concede that I’d overreacted [with direct speech]: ‘All right then,’ she conceded...
- When the allegations were put to McKellar, he denied them while conceding that complaints had been made.
- The Liberal Democrats have already conceded that they cannot deny him a further term in office.
- This is clear to see on page 41 of the originating judgment where the trial judge relied on that alibi which Mr Smith now concedes is not true.
Synonyms
admit, acknowledge, accept, allow, grant, recognize, own, confess;
agree
informal take on board
1.1 [with object] Admit (defeat) in a match or contest: reluctantly, Ellen conceded defeat...
- Senate Majority Leader John Hottinger conceded defeat to Governor Tim Pawlenty this afternoon.
- As much as I hated to concede defeat, I opened the door and asked, ‘Anyone have any ideas?’
- Milosevic lost the elections, but even two weeks later, he still refused to concede defeat.
Synonyms
capitulate, give in, surrender, yield, give up the struggle, cave in, submit, raise/show the white flag, lay down one's arms;
back down, climb down
informal throw in the towel, throw in the sponge
1.2 [with object] Admit defeat in (a match or contest): they conceded the match to their opponents...
- It took only minutes before Karae was ready to concede the equestrianship title to Yelan.
- Many in the party seemed helpless before the Republican success, ready to concede the 2004 election.
- A moment later he told members of his campaign that he was ready to concede the election to Bush, which he did several minutes later over the telephone.
2 [with object] Surrender or yield (a possession, right, or privilege): in 475 the emperor conceded the Auvergne to Euric...
- Not all periods of the game are of equal tactical significance, and the ability to play through the dying minutes without panic, and without conceding possession and position is a vital one.
- But Anderlecht were an increasing danger, going forward down both flanks and profiting from Liverpool conceding possession.
- The home keeper showed immense bravery in just 4 minutes when he dived at the feet of Andy Clark after Derek Clark had carelessly conceded possession.
Synonyms
surrender, yield, give up, relinquish, cede, hand over, turn over, part with, deliver up;
forfeit, sacrifice
2.1Grant (a right, privilege, or demand): their rights to redress of grievances were conceded once more...
- The Sikhs had to agitate for nearly 15 years until their demand was conceded in 1966.
- But the biggest present was a letter on the fax from Jack McConnell conceding her demand for an independent inquiry into the shambles of the Holyrood building.
- If Cork demands are conceded, and other counties follow suit, then it would be reasonable to suggest that there will be many players constantly taking time off to train and play.
2.2(In sport) fail to prevent an opponent scoring (a goal or point): they have conceded only one goal in seven matches...
- The situation at the break, 1-0 ahead, was familiar to Kendal but in their three previous matches they had failed to score, conceded goals and lost.
- A strong defensive partnership between Ellie Hargreaves and Annabel Graham at the back prevented any goals being conceded during the morning.
- While they don't concede goals frivolously, getting the ball in the net has become something of a luxury.
2.3Allow (a lead or advantage) to slip: he took an early lead which he never conceded...
- We conceded the lead in a close finish and ended up losing the game.
- Johnson being the sole dedicated striker allowed Williamson to stretch Celtic's back three without conceding any numerical advantage to them in the centre of the field.
- The Sylvestrians who were reeling at 19 for 4 overnight, batted through to 134, conceding a lead of 125.
Derivatives
conceder
- But the concessions cannot be withdrawn until the conceders leave the political scene.
- They are the biggest corner conceders in the league away from home, allowing an average of 8.24 per game.
- If the politicians turned out to be big territory conceders - maybe there's hope for the opposition.
Origin
Late 15th century: from French concéder or Latin concedere, from con- 'completely' + cedere 'yield'.
cede from early 16th century:
Cede is from French céder or Latin cedere ‘to yield, give way, go’. Cedere is a rich source of English words including abscess (mid 16th century) ‘going away’ (of the infection when it bursts); access [Middle English] ‘go to’; ancestor (Middle English) someone who went ante ‘before’; antecedent (Late Middle English) from the same base as ancestor; cease (Middle English); concede (Late Middle English) to give way completely; decease (Middle English) ‘go away’; exceed (Late Middle English) to go beyond a boundary; intercede (late 16th century) go between; predecessor (Late Middle English) one who went away before; proceed (Late Middle English) to go forward; recede (Late Middle English) ‘go back’; and succeed (Late Middle English) ‘come close after’.