# surrendering

/sɝˈɛndɝɪŋ/ (US) · /səɹˈɛndəɹɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/surrendering
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

giving up or stopping a fight because you know you cannot win. It can also mean handing over something you own to someone else in power.

For teachers: the present participle of 'surrender'; refers to the act of yielding to the power or control of another. Often describes a formal admission of defeat or the relinquishing of a possession or right.

## Examples

- The soldiers are surrendering their weapons to the police.
- After hours of intense negotiation, the suspect is surrendering to the authorities without further resistance.
- By surrendering his claim to the inheritance, he hoped to restore peace within the family and avoid a lengthy legal battle that would deplete their remaining assets.

## Pitfalls

- Not "surrendering from the enemy" but "surrendering to the enemy" — When yielding to an opponent, the verb takes the preposition 'to', not 'from'.

## Usage notes

- The verb can be used intransitively ('they are surrendering') or transitively with a direct object ('surrendering their rights').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.