# concede

/kənˈsid/ (US) · /kənsˈiːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/concede
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to admit something is true

verb · CEFR B2

to admit that something is true or logical, even if you are not happy about it.

For teachers: to acknowledge as true, just, or proper, often reluctantly or after initial denial.

- After seeing the evidence, he had to concede that his theory was wrong.
- The minister was eventually forced to concede that the new policy had failed to meet its primary economic targets.

Usage: Often followed by a 'that' clause or a direct object.

### 2. to admit defeat

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to admit that you have lost a game, an election, or an argument.

For teachers: to yield or surrender in a contest; to acknowledge an opponent's victory before it is officially final.

- The candidate decided to concede the election once the final votes were counted.
- Despite a valiant effort in the final set, the grandmaster chose to concede the match when he realised his position was untenable.

Usage: Commonly used in political and competitive contexts.

### 3. to allow a goal

verb · CEFR B2

to have a goal or a point scored against you or your team.

For teachers: to fail to prevent an opponent from scoring a goal, point, or run.

- The team was disappointed to concede a goal in the last minute of the game.
- The goalkeeper had not conceded a single goal in five matches until a defensive error allowed the striker through.

Usage: The subject is usually the team or player that is defending.

## Examples

- The player decided to concede the match after falling behind by ten points.
- With only five minutes left on the clock and a massive score gap, the visiting team had to concede defeat.
- Although the final votes were still being tallied, the candidate chose to concede the election to avoid further political instability and allow the transition to begin.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.