English Reference
noun

conquest

n.
US /ˈkɑŋkwɛst/ UK /kˈɒnkwɛst/ con·quest UK spelling conquest's, conquest's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of taking control of a country or area by winning a war.

    the act or instance of achieving victory through combat; the subjugation of an enemy or territory.

    Simple

    The Roman conquest of Britain changed the island's culture for centuries.

    In context

    Historians continue to debate the long-term social consequences of the Norman conquest on the English legal system.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the act of successfully dealing with a difficult problem or reaching a hard goal.

    the act of gaining control or mastery over a non-military obstacle or field of study.

    Simple

    The conquest of the world's highest mountain was a dream for many climbers.

    In context

    The rapid conquest of smallpox remains one of the greatest achievements in the history of modern medicine.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced InformalHumorous

    a person that you have successfully persuaded to love you or have sex with you.

    a person whose romantic or sexual affections have been won, often used with a predatory or competitive connotation.

    Simple

    He liked to brag about his latest romantic conquest to his friends.

    In context

    She was tired of being treated as just another conquest and sought a more meaningful relationship.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense can sound cynical or objectifying; use with caution depending on the social context.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Computing

    a type of game where teams try to capture and hold specific areas on a map.

    a competitive multiplayer mode, typically in shooters, where teams vie for control of specific points or territories.

    Simple

    We spent the whole evening playing conquest mode on the new desert map.

    In context

    The latest patch adjusted the scoring mechanics in conquest to prevent one team from dominating the match too early.

    dominationcontrol point
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated