What does "submit" mean?

1. (to hand in a document) to give a document, plan, or piece of work to someone so they can consider it or mark it. 2. (to yield to authority) to accept that someone else has power over you and stop resisting them. 3. (to suggest an opinion) to suggest something in a polite or formal way, especially in a court of law. 4. (to undergo a process) to allow yourself to be part of a test or a difficult process.

How do you use "submit"?

Often used with the preposition 'to'. Intransitive when meaning to give up; transitive when 'submitting oneself'. Often followed by a 'that' clause. Usually takes a reflexive pronoun and the preposition 'to'.

submit

US //səbˈmɪt// UK //səbmˈɪt// sub·mit

1 to hand in a document (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

to give a document, plan, or piece of work to someone so they can consider it or mark it.

to present or tender a document, proposal, or application for formal consideration or judgment.

Example

You must submit your application before the end of the month.

Example

The researchers were required to submit their final report to the ethics committee before the clinical trials could proceed to the next phase.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'to'.
- withdraw
2 to yield to authority (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to accept that someone else has power over you and stop resisting them.

to yield to the will or authority of another; to cease resistance.

Example

The rebels finally agreed to submit to the government's authority.

Example

After weeks of intense diplomatic pressure, the smaller nation was forced to submit to the terms of the treaty.

Usage

Intransitive when meaning to give up; transitive when 'submitting oneself'.
- yield
- surrender
- give in
- resist
- rebel

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3 to suggest an opinion (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal Law

to suggest something in a polite or formal way, especially in a court of law.

to offer as an opinion or proposition for consideration, typically in a formal or legal context.

Example

I submit that the evidence does not support the witness's story.

Example

Counsel for the defence submitted that the defendant had acted under extreme duress and should therefore be acquitted of all charges.

Usage

Often followed by a 'that' clause.
4 to undergo a process (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to allow yourself to be part of a test or a difficult process.

to subject oneself or something to a particular process, treatment, or condition.

Example

He had to submit himself to a series of medical tests.

Example

The prototype must submit to rigorous stress testing under extreme temperatures before it can be approved for mass production.

Usage

Usually takes a reflexive pronoun and the preposition 'to'.
- undergo
- subject

Origin

From Middle English submitten, borrowed from Latin submittere, infinitive of submittō (“place under, yield”), from sub (“under, from below, up”) + mitto (“to send”). Compare upsend.