concede

verb

con·​cede kən-ˈsēd 

conceded; conceding

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to acknowledge grudgingly or hesitantly

conceded that it might be a good idea

(2)

: to relinquish grudgingly or hesitantly

concede power

b

: to accept as true, valid, or accurate

The right of the state to tax is generally conceded.

2

: to grant as a right or privilege

Britain conceded the independence of the colonies.

intransitive verb

: to make concession : yield

concededly

kən-ˈsē-dəd-lē 

adverb

conceder noun

Did you know?

Politics and Concede

After the votes have been counted, one candidate traditionally concedes the election to his or her opponent by giving a concession speech. If you're lucky, your boss will concede that she was wrong the last time she criticized you. But in the middle of an argument, we're not all so good at conceding that the other guy might have a good point.

Synonyms

• admit
• confess
• acknowledge
• agree

Choose the Right Synonym for concede

grant, concede, vouchsafe, accord, award mean to give as a favor or a right.

grant implies giving to a claimant or petitioner something that could be withheld.

granted them a new hearing

concede implies yielding something reluctantly in response to a rightful or compelling claim.

even her critics concede she can be charming

vouchsafe implies granting something as a courtesy or an act of gracious condescension.

vouchsafed the secret to only a few chosen disciples

accord implies giving to another what is due or proper.

accorded all the honors befitting a head of state

award implies giving what is deserved or merited usually after a careful weighing of pertinent factors.

awarded the company a huge defense contract

Examples of concede in a Sentence

… he conceded that with six kids, something like this was bound to happen. At least one of them had to be a bad egg. —Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, 2005

… it was generally conceded that Caepio, if and when tried for treason under the present system, would be acquitted. —Colleen McCullough, The First Man in Rome, (1990) 1991

… after listening to Tom, he conceded that there were some conspicuous advantages about a life of crime, and so he consented to be a pirate. —Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, 1876

I concede that the work has been slow so far, but it should speed up soon.

“Your plan might work,” she conceded, “but I still think mine is better.”

Although it seems clear that he has lost the election, he still refuses to concede.

He's not ready to concede the election.

The former ruler was forced to concede power to a new government.

The company says that workers are not conceding enough in negotiations.

Recent Examples on the Web

In their five World Cup matches, the Netherlands conceded only two goals with Spitse on the pitch. —Cerys Jones, New York Times, 5 July 2025

To get to a supermajority on partial overrides, the four members conceded on some of Gloria’s vetoes, such as elimination of $250,000 for a homeless outreach team. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2025

Combs’ legal team requested he be released on bail, but the judge denied the request, noting the defense had conceded Combs has a violent past, citing the surveillance footage of Combs attacking Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel. —Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025

After classified briefings last week at the Capitol, Republican lawmakers have conceded that the strikes may not have wiped out all of Iran’s nuclear materials. —Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

French or Latin; French concéder, from Latin concedere, from com- + cedere to yield

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Phrases Containing concede

• concede defeat

Rhymes for concede

• accede
• agreed
• airspeed
• alkyd
• bindweed
• chickweed
• decreed
• duckweed
• exceed
• flaxseed
• impede
• indeed

Kids Definition

concede

verb

con·​cede kən-ˈsēd 

conceded; conceding

1

: to grant as a right or privilege

2

: to admit the truth or existence of something

concede defeat

conceder noun

Etymology

from French concéder or Latin concedere, both meaning "to yield, grant, concede," from Latin con-, com- "together, with" and cedere "to go, withdraw, yield" — related to ancestor, necessary, predecessor, succeed