surrender

/səˈrɛndər/

Say it: suh-REN-der

1. verb To stop resisting an opponent or enemy and submit to their authority.
After weeks of fighting, the outnumbered soldiers were forced to surrender.
2. noun The act of giving up and submitting to an opponent's power.
The treaty was signed following the army's unconditional surrender.
3. verb To give up or hand over a possession, right, or person, often under compulsion.
You must surrender your driver's license after a DUI conviction.
4. verb To abandon oneself entirely to a particular feeling, influence, or course of action.
She decided to surrender to her curiosity and opened the mysterious box.

📖 Seen in the wild

After a long siege, the city was forced to surrender to the invading army.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ surrender in a sentence

The company had to surrender its claim to the trademark after a lengthy legal battle.
He finally surrendered to the desire for sleep and closed his eyes.
The official surrender was broadcast on all national radio stations.
As part of the plea deal, he agreed to surrender his passport.
In meditation, the goal is to surrender control of your thoughts.
The government demanded that the rebels surrender their weapons immediately.
I surrender; you are simply too good at this game for me.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

capitulate yield submit relent concede give up cede waive

capitulate · implies surrendering under formal, negotiated terms.

yield · suggests giving way to a superior force or pressure, not always in a conflict.

submit · focuses on placing oneself under the authority or control of another.

relent · means to finally give in after a period of resistance, often out of pity or persuasion.

Opposites: resist, withstand, defy, fight, conquer

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'surrender' entered English from Old French in the 15th century. It comes from 'surrendre', a compound of 'sur-' (over) and 'rendre' (to give back), literally meaning 'to give over'. Its initial use was in legal and military contexts, referring to the formal act of handing over property or yielding to an enemy, a core meaning it retains today.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

unconditional surrendersurrender controlsurrender a weaponsurrender to temptationa white flag of surrenderdemand a surrender

While 'surrender' is a neutral term, its connotation depends heavily on context. In military, legal, or competitive situations, it strongly implies defeat and loss. However, in psychological or spiritual contexts, it can carry a positive connotation of acceptance, liberation, and finding peace by letting go of a struggle. It is generally a stronger and more formal word than the common phrasal verb 'give up'.

Word family: surrender (verb), surrender (noun)

💬 Quick answers

What does surrender mean?

To surrender means to stop resisting an opponent or pressure and submit to their authority. It can also mean to give up a right or possession, or to yield to a strong feeling.

What is the difference between surrender and capitulate?

Surrender is a general term for giving up. Capitulate is more specific, typically meaning to surrender according to negotiated terms, often in a formal military or political context.

Can surrender have a positive meaning?

Yes. While it often implies defeat in conflict, in personal or spiritual contexts, to surrender can mean to let go of control and accept a situation, which is often seen as a positive step toward peace.

Is surrender a formal word?

Surrender is a neutral word that can be used in both formal and informal contexts. In very casual speech, people might prefer the phrasal verb 'give up'.

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