From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishconcedecon‧cede /kənˈsiːd/ ●○○ verb 1 admit something is true [intransitive, transitive]ADMIT to admit that something is true or correct, although you wish it were not true → concession ‘That’s the only possible solution.’ ‘Yes, I suppose so, ’ Charles conceded.concede (that) I conceded that I had made a number of errors.► see thesaurus at admit2 admit defeat [intransitive, transitive]LOSE A GAME, COMPETITION, OR WAR to admit that you are not going to win a game, argument, battle etc → concession The Georgian forces defended the capital but were finally obliged to concede. In May 1949, Stalin conceded defeat and reopened land access to Berlin.3 → concede a goal/point/penalty4 give something as a right [transitive]LET/ALLOW to give something to someone as a right or privilege, often unwillingly → concessionconcede something to somebody The King finally agreed to concede further powers to Parliament. Finally the company conceded wage increases to their workers.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
concede• "Well, she is a little bit rude, " Ortega conceded.• After three years of civil war, the rebels finally conceded.• This time the fear of conceding an early goal will outweigh any desire for an instant lift.• Eventually, the chairman was forced to concede and announce his resignation.• Matthew kept on arguing his point, unwilling to concede defeat.• "Sam, you have to apologise to her" -- "I know, " Sam conceded grudgingly.• Knowles refused to concede her error.• The majority concede that a complaint which is not supported by evidence of injury is unlikely to be pursued by the police.• Environmentalists concede that it will not be easy to persuade car drivers to use their vehicles less often.• But eventually he was forced to concede that religious and regional fanaticism threatened to overwhelm his reforms.• For the first time in living memory a presidential candidate claimed the White House before his rival had conceded the race.• We both had a point, but neither of us would concede to the other.concede (that)• However, Mr Nasser concedes it has been only recently that he has made real progress in reducing his head count.• Even a sympathizer conceded that Aleksandr Golovnin possessed few qualifications for heading the education ministry.• Anderson is a large man who concedes that he is 40 pounds overweight.• The Group concedes that many client will be afraid of upsetting their relationship with their bank.• Even his friends concede that Pillsbury can be difficult, being something of a diva, hot-tempered and imperious.• Government officials concede their courts are not perfect.• An intimacy Jessica and I conceded to was holding hands.• That would be to concede total defeat.• United, leading 3-0 at the time, conceded two goals at the final whistle.conceded defeat• I get the impression that the Tories have already conceded defeat.• The Steady State Theory floundered on for a few more years, being continually revised, but eventually its three proponents conceded defeat.• Kavner conceded defeat after 75% of the vote had been counted.• Swearing-in of new President On Nov. 1 Kaunda conceded defeat after about a third of the results had been publicly declared.• Seemingly mustered for a last ditch stand they in fact conceded defeat after only six days.• The Committee finally conceded defeat and left the matter open.• In May 1949, after almost a year of crisis, Stalin conceded defeat and reopened land access to the city.• This time, one of the two opponents capitulated, conceded defeat-to an unprecedented degree.concede something to somebody• He has stated repeatedly that he will not concede any territory to neighboring countries.• The richer nations will never concede equal status to the poorer countries.Origin concede (1400-1500) French concéder, from Latin concedere, from com- ( → COM-) + cedere ( → CEDE) 