Word
surrender
Phoneticssur·ren·der, stress on the second syllable
US/sɝˈɛndɝ/
UK/səɹˈɛndɐ/
Definitions
01to stop fighting
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to stop fighting or resisting because you know you cannot win.
v. to cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority. Often used intransitively in military contexts.
“The soldiers were forced to surrender after they ran out of food and ammunition.”
“After weeks of heavy bombardment and dwindling supplies, the garrison was left with no choice but to surrender to the advancing forces.”
02to give up a right or object
C1 · Advanced Law Formal
v. to give up something you own or a right you have, often because you are required to.
v. to give up possession or control of something to another, especially under legal or official compulsion.
“You must surrender your passport to the authorities while the investigation continues.”
“The defendant was ordered to surrender all travel documents to the court to ensure he would not flee the jurisdiction before the trial.”
Synonyms
03to give in to emotion
C1 · Advanced Literary
v. to stop trying to control a strong feeling or influence.
v. to abandon oneself to a particular influence, emotion, or impulse. Often used reflexively with 'to'.
“She decided to surrender to her grief and cried for hours.”
“Exhausted by the long journey, he finally surrendered to sleep, oblivious to the storm raging outside the cabin.”
04the act of giving up
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of admitting defeat or giving up control.
n. the action of yielding one's person or giving up the possession of something especially into the power of another.
“The general signed the surrender in a small house near the battlefield.”
“The sudden surrender of the rebel leaders brought an unexpected and welcome end to the decade-long civil war.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “surrender” in context.
Verb
01. surrender to the temptation
“After weeks of strict dieting, she finally surrendered to the temptation of a chocolate dessert.”
verb + prep + noun
02. surrender your passport to the authorities
“The judge ordered the defendant to surrender his passport to the authorities to prevent him from leaving the country.”
verb + possessive + noun + prep + noun
03. unconditionally surrender
“The enemy forces were finally compelled to unconditionally surrender after the capital fell.”
adv + verb
04. voluntarily surrender control
“The CEO decided to voluntarily surrender control of the company to the board of directors.”
adv + verb + noun
Preposition
05. in surrender
“The soldiers raised their hands in surrender as the opposing army surrounded the bunker.”
prep + noun
Adverb
06. abjectly surrender
“The team seemed to abjectly surrender in the final minutes of the match, offering no resistance.”
adv + verb
07. formally surrender the territory
“The defeated general met with the victors to formally surrender the territory.”
adv + verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“The state's premier Chris Minns said on Saturday: "We want those guns handed in, compensated for and safely destroyed."
He said the move could see hundreds of thousands of guns surrendered.” “The Soviet Union declared war on Japan in August 1945 as Tokyo was about to surrender, and the dispute has prevented the two nations from signing a formal peace treaty.” Etymology
Etymology tree Middle English surrendren English surrender From Middle English surrendren, from Old French surrendre, from sur- + rendre (“render”). Displaced native Old English on hand gān.
From Middle English surrendre, from Anglo-Norman surrendre, infinitive as noun. Displaced native Old English handgang.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
In Music
Surrender · 1978 · Rock music
- Artist:
- Cheap Trick
- Album:
- Heaven Tonight
Released in 1978, this classic rock anthem by Cheap Trick describes a teenager navigating his relationship with his surprisingly cool parents. The title uses the word figuratively to describe giving in to the inevitable influence of the older generation rather than fighting against it. It became the band's first major hit on the Billboard charts.
Domains
- 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
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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