Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To admit that something is true or valid, often after initially resisting or denying it.
   • To grant or yield a point, right, or privilege to someone else.
   • In competitive contexts, to acknowledge defeat or loss.

2. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To make a concession; to yield or give in, especially in an argument or contest.

Usage

• Transitive Verb: Used with a direct object (e.g., a point, a game, a right).
  • Structure: concede + [noun/that-clause]
• Intransitive Verb: Used without a direct object, often in the context of ending a competition.
  • Structure: concede + (optional prepositional phrase, e.g., "to an opponent").

Examples

• Transitive Verb:
  • He finally conceded the argument when presented with the evidence.
  • The company conceded that there was a fault in their product.
  • The champion conceded the match due to injury.
• Intransitive Verb:
  • After trailing by 20 points, the team decided to concede.
  • The politician conceded gracefully after the election results were clear.

Advanced Usage

• "Concede defeat": To formally or publicly admit that one has lost.
  • The candidate was forced to concede defeat.
• "Concede a goal/point": In sports, to allow the opposing team or player to score.
  • The defense was weak and conceded two early goals.
• Used in formal debate or negotiation to show intellectual honesty by accepting a valid point from the opposing side.
  • "I'll concede that your proposal has some merit, but I still have concerns about the cost."

Variants and Related Words

• Concession (n): The act of conceding; something that is granted or admitted.
  • As a concession, they agreed to lower the price.
• Concessive (adj): Expressing concession (often used in grammar, e.g., a concessive clause like "although").
  • "Although" is a concessive conjunction.

Synonyms

• Admit: To acknowledge something, often reluctantly.
• Grant: To agree to give or allow something.
• Yield: To give way to arguments, demands, or pressure.
• Surrender: To give up completely.
• Confess: To admit, especially to a fault or crime.

Antonyms

• Deny: To state that something is not true.
• Contest: To oppose or dispute.
• Refute: To prove a statement or theory to be wrong.
• Win: To be successful in a contest.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Concede ground: To yield or give up a position, either literally or in an argument.
  • Under pressure, the negotiators began to concede ground on key issues.
• Concede nothing: To refuse to yield or admit any point.
  • The lawyer advised her client to concede nothing during the deposition.

Verb

1. acknowledge defeat
   • The candidate conceded after enough votes had come in to show that he would lose
2. give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another
3. be willing to concede
   • I grant you this much
4. admit (to a wrongdoing)
   • She confessed that she had taken the money