surrender

the usually forced yielding of one's person or possessions to the control of another the police demanded the surrender of all hostages as a condition for allowing the hijackers safe passage out of the country Synonyms capitulating, capitulation, cession, handover, relinquishment, rendition, submission, submitting Related Words acceptance, acquiescence, concession; compromise; appeasement, conciliation, reconcilement, reconciliation; capture, fall Near Antonyms resistance

1 to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress the toddler surrendered the doll to her mother after a brief struggle the commander surrendered the garrison without having fired a single shot Synonyms cede, cough up, deliver, give up, hand over, lay down, relinquish, render, turn in, turn over, yield Related Words commit, consign, entrust (also intrust), transfer; forfeit, release, waive; abnegate, renounce, resign; abandon, desert, discard, forsake, part (with), shed Near Antonyms keep, retain, withhold

2 to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) the father refused to surrender to his son's constant begging for a BB gun Synonyms blink, bow, budge, capitulate, concede, give in, knuckle under, quit, relent, submit, succumb, yieldRelated Words acquiesce; deferNear Antonyms contend, fight, hold off; battle, breast, combat, confront, counter, defy, face, meet, object, oppose, repel; thwart, withstandAntonyms resist

3 to give up (as a position of authority) formally the aging queen refused to surrender the throne to her increasingly impatient heir Synonyms abnegate, cede, relinquish, renounce, resign, step aside (from), step down (from), abdicateRelated Words abjure, demit, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, waive; forsake, give up, hand over, yield; abandon, desert, quit, vacateNear Antonyms appropriate, arrogate, assume, claim, confiscate; seize, take over, usurp, wrest; defend, guard, protect, safeguard, secure

4 to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) determined to give up smoking, she so far has not surrendered to her incessant desire to have a cigarette Synonyms bow, cave (in), give in, submit, succumb, yieldRelated Words cater (to), gratify, indulge, wallow; acquiesce (to), concede (to); buckle (under), knuckle under; give over (to)Near Antonyms battle, breast, combat, confront, counter, defy, face, fight, meet, object, oppose, repel; thwart, withstand; reject; bridle, check, constrain, curb, inhibit, restrain, stifleAntonyms hold off, resist

5 to yield to the control or power of enemy forces General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, thus ending the Civil War Synonyms capitulate, give up, knuckle under, submit, succumb, fallRelated Words bow, buckle, cave (in), collapse, give (in); hand over, relinquish; lose; concede, fail, foldNear Antonyms buck, defy, fight, oppose, repel, resist, withstand; beat, overcome, win; conquer, prevail, triumphAntonyms endure, stand

6 to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly laid-off workers who surrender themselves to despair will almost certainly never regain their footing Synonyms deliver, give up, indulge, abandon, yieldRelated Words overdo, overindulge; bask, luxuriate, revel, roll, wallowNear Antonyms abstain (from), eschew, forbear, forgo (also forego), refrain (from); check, inhibit, restrainAntonyms deny