Definition of CEDE

Do you cede or seed control?

Cede means "to yield or grant typically by treaty." Most of the verb senses of seed are concerned with planting seeds (either literal, as of plants, or figuratively, as of ideas). However, the word may also be used to mean "to schedule (tournament players or teams) so that superior ones will not meet in early rounds." If you relinquish or yield something you are ceding it, and if you are organizing the participants in a tournament you are seeding them.

Did You Know?

Cede is often a formal term used in discussing territory and rights, but is also used less formally. So, for example, Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the U.S. in 1898, following the Spanish-American War, and the U.S. ceded control of the Panama Canal to Panama in 1999. Critics warn that we are ceding leadership in alternative-energy technology to China. Citizens of one European country or another are always worrying that their own country is ceding too much power to the European Union. A tennis player doesn't have any choice when she cedes her no. 1 ranking to a rival.

Examples of cede in a Sentence

Russia ceded Alaska to the U.S. in 1867. she reluctantly ceded her position as leader

Recent Examples on the Web

If automakers continue to cede control over infotainment systems to Google, that could leave Amazon out in the cold. — Sean O'kane, The Verge, "Amazon’s Echo Auto is another quick fix for the broken state of in-car infotainment," 21 Sep. 2018 Some protestors have also called for Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala to cede control of the investigation to the state district attorney. — Jamie Ducharme, Time, "The Pittsburgh Police Officer Who Shot Antwon Rose Has Been Charged With Criminal Homicide," 27 June 2018 Trump, a wealthy businessman who as president regularly visits his own hotels, resorts and golf clubs, has ceded day-to-day control of his businesses to his sons. — Andrew Chung, Anchorage Daily News, "Federal judge refuses to toss suit against Trump on foreign payments," 29 Mar. 2018 But instead of a broad surrender agreement that would cover the entire southwest pocket—which includes Daraa and Qunietra provinces—rebel fighters in individual towns have struck their own deals to cede control to the regime. — Raja Abdulrahim, WSJ, "Syrian Regime Takes Key Border Crossing as More Rebel Towns Surrender," 6 July 2018 The United Nations hopes to persuade the Houthis to cede control of the port to an international committee to avert disruption to aid supplies and further bloodshed. — New York Times, "Battles Rage Around International Airport in Strategic Yemeni City," 16 June 2018 But the archaeological agency has been reluctant to cede control over the monument or invite international experts. — Shashank Bengali, latimes.com, "How air pollution, a dying river and swarms of defecating insects threaten the Taj Mahal," 22 May 2018 Abbas has blamed Hamas and threatened more financial pressure, such as cutting civil servant salaries or fuel purchases, to force the group to cede control. — Fox News, "Palestinians prepare mass demonstrations along Gaza border," 28 Mar. 2018 The answer is at the heart of why the organization might be better off ceding control in the case. — Michael Mccann, SI.com, "The NCAA's Own History in MSU's Sexual Assault Scandal Could Impede Any Potential Punishment," 28 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cede.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.