cede

verb

\ ˈsēd

ceded; ceding

Definition of cede

1 : to yield or grant typically by treaty Russia ceded Alaska to the U.S. in 1867.

2 : assign, transfer ceded his stock holdings to his children

Other Words from cede Synonyms Do you cede or seed control? Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about cede

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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

To avoid that, Bob Templeton has ceded control of the show to his daughter, Tracy Olcott, who has no record. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Judge orders Del Mar Fairgrounds to reinstate gun shows," 20 June 2019 His success with the Lakers came in large part from his knowing how to cede the stage to Johnson, then a dynamic young point guard. — Robert O'connell, The Atlantic, "Anthony Davis and LeBron James Are Uniquely Suited to Win," 17 June 2019 Sanders isn't a Walmart shareholder, but he was invited by someone who ceded her time to the presidential candidate. — Maria Halkias, Dallas News, "Walmart CEO asks Congress to raise minimum wage; Bernie Sanders pushes for more from nation's biggest employer," 5 June 2019 Mayor Ron Nirenberg protected a narrow edge over Greg Brockhouse in Saturday’s mayoral runoff by maintaining turnout in his pockets of strength near San Antonio’s urban core, without ceding ground on the North Side. — Luke Whyte, ExpressNews.com, "Here’s how Nirenberg narrowly won re-election as San Antonio’s mayor," 11 June 2019 Get our daily newsletter March 30th marked two years since the army ceded power to the NLD. — The Economist, "After two years of civilian rule, Myanmar’s politicians are gloomy," 5 Apr. 2018 In dealing with the challenge, Mr. Xi has tried to appear conciliatory, without ceding authority. — Chun Han Wong, WSJ, "Xi Jinping’s Strongman Rule Comes Under Fire as China Celebrates Deng’s Reforms," 18 Dec. 2018 By the 1990s, the situation had stabilized, with the government ceding economic control. — Hanya Yanagihara, Condé Nast Traveler, "Why Luang Prabang Is the Ideal Southeast Asian City," 20 Nov. 2018 Players with some leverage may wrangle two years of security before ceding control to the team. — Andrew Brandt, SI.com, "How NFL and NBA Contracts Differ, and What NFL Players Can Do to Change It," 10 July 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.