Word
conquer
Phoneticscon·quer, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑŋkɝ/
UK/kˈɒnkɐ/
Definitions
01to defeat in war
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to take control of a country or city by winning a war.
v. to acquire territory or subjugate a population by force of arms.
“The Roman Empire managed to conquer most of Europe and parts of Africa.”
“The invading army sought to conquer the coastal provinces before the winter snows blocked the mountain passes.”
Usage
Often used with a direct object representing a place or a people.
02to overcome a problem
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to successfully deal with a difficult situation, a fear, or a bad habit.
v. to overcome an abstract obstacle or psychological challenge through effort and persistence.
“It took her many years to finally conquer her fear of flying.”
“The research team worked tirelessly to conquer the technical difficulties that had delayed the project for months.”
Antonyms
03to gain by effort
C1 · Advanced Literary
v. to win someone's love or to reach a difficult goal through hard work.
v. to gain, win, or obtain something desirable through significant exertion or charm.
“He hoped his kind actions would eventually conquer her heart.”
“The young diplomat aimed to conquer the respect of his peers through meticulous preparation and unwavering integrity.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “conquer” in context.
Verb
01. conquer a fear
“She finally conquered her fear of public speaking by joining a local drama club.”
verb + noun
02. conquer an addiction
“It took years of therapy and support for him to fully conquer his addiction to gambling.”
verb + noun
03. strive to conquer
“The mountain climbers strive to conquer the peak before the winter storms arrive.”
verb + infinitive
Noun
04. attempt to conquer
“The army's first attempt to conquer the fortress was repelled by the heavy rains.”
noun + infinitive
05. desire to conquer
“His relentless desire to conquer new territories led to a series of prolonged conflicts.”
noun + infinitive
Adverb
06. successfully conquer
“The medical team successfully conquered the outbreak through a rapid vaccination program.”
adv + verb
07. virtually conquer
“By the end of the decade, the company had virtually conquered the global software market.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“Or more than a million."
"It seems to me that the situation with Ukraine now is this: you can destroy it, but you cannot conquer it.” “Dinosaurs conquered the land at enormous sizes, but strangely, they almost never evolved into truly tiny animals.” Etymology
From Middle English conqueren, from Old French conquerre, from Late Latin conquaerere (“to knock, strike; to search for, procure”), from Latin con- + quaerere (“to seek, acquire”). Displaced native Old English oferwinnan.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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