What does "submission" mean?

1. (handing in work) the act of giving a document, an essay, or an application to someone so they can check or approve it. 2. (the document itself) the actual piece of work or document that you have sent to be reviewed. 3. (yielding to authority) the act of accepting that someone else has power over you and doing what they say. 4. (combat sports) a move in a fight that makes an opponent admit they have lost by 'tapping out'.

How do you use "submission"?

Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the item being submitted. Countable in this sense. Often uncountable when referring to a state of mind or character trait. Commonly used in the context of wrestling, judo, or mixed martial arts.

submission

US //səbˈmɪʃən// UK //səbmˈɪʃən// sub·mis·sion

1 handing in work (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the act of giving a document, an essay, or an application to someone so they can check or approve it.

the act of presenting a document, proposal, or piece of work for consideration or judgement.

Example

The deadline for the submission of your final essay is next Friday at noon.

Example

The online portal will automatically close at midnight, so please ensure the submission of your application is completed well in advance.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the item being submitted.
- presentation
- handing in
- filing
- withdrawal
2 the document itself (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the actual piece of work or document that you have sent to be reviewed.

the specific item, document, or piece of creative work that has been submitted.

Example

The judges are currently reading through every submission for the short story contest.

Example

The committee reviewed over two hundred submissions, eventually narrowing the field down to three potential candidates for the architectural commission.

Usage

Countable in this sense.

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3 yielding to authority (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

the act of accepting that someone else has power over you and doing what they say.

the state of being obedient or the act of yielding to the power or authority of another.

Example

The soldiers were starved into submission after the city was surrounded for months.

Example

The treaty was signed not out of a genuine desire for peace, but as a total submission to the overwhelming military force of the invaders.

Usage

Often uncountable when referring to a state of mind or character trait.
4 combat sports (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Sport

a move in a fight that makes an opponent admit they have lost by 'tapping out'.

a combat sports technique that involves a joint lock or choke, forcing an opponent to yield.

Example

He won the match in the second round with a powerful submission.

Example

The fighter demonstrated superior ground control, eventually securing a victory via a technical submission just before the bell.

Usage

Commonly used in the context of wrestling, judo, or mixed martial arts.
- tap out
- hold

Etymology 1

From Middle English submissioun, from Old French soubmission, from Latin submissio, from submitto.

Etymology 2

From sub- + mission.