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surrender

Pronunciation: /səˈrɛndə/
Translate surrender | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of surrender

verb

  • 1 [no object] stop resisting to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority:over 140 rebels surrendered to the authorities
  • [with object] (in sport) lose (a point, game, or advantage) to an opponent:she surrendered only twenty games in her five qualifying matches
  • (surrender to) give in to (a powerful emotion or influence):the president has surrendered to panic and is making things worse he surrendered himself to the mood of the hills
  • 2 [with object] give up or hand over (a person, right, or possession), typically on compulsion or demand:in 1815 Denmark surrendered Norway to Sweden the UK is opposed to surrendering its monetary sovereignty
  • (of a person assured) cancel (a life insurance policy) and receive back a proportion of the premiums paid.
  • give up (a lease) before its expiry.

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1the action of surrendering to an opponent or powerful influence:the final surrender of Germany on 8 May 1945 [count noun]:the colonel was anxious to negotiate a surrender
  • 2the action of surrendering a lease or life insurance policy.

Phrases

surrender to bail

Law duly appear in court after release on bail.

Origin:

late Middle English (chiefly in legal use): from Anglo-Norman French (see sur-1, render)

Spelling help

Surrender is spelled with a double r.

surrender in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of surrender in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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