concede defeat

IPA/kənsˈiːd dɪfˈiːt/
IPA/kənsˈiːd dᵻfˈiːt/

concede defeat — idiom

1. to admit that someone else has won a contest, competition, or argument, or to ac

1.慣用語B2
釋義

to admit that someone else has won a contest, competition, or argument, or to accept that you are unable to succeed in a struggle

例句

After the final votes were counted, the mayor conceded defeat to her challenger.

pattern: concede defeat to [competitor]

Mathieu conceded defeat when his opponent captured his last chess piece with a clever move.

concrete context: a chess game

同義詞
  • admit defeat

    slightly less formal; interchangeable in most contexts

  • throw in the towel

    informal idiom, from boxing; suggests giving up early

  • surrender

    stronger and more dramatic; often used in military or metaphorical contexts

  • give up

    less formal; can apply to any goal, not just competitive contexts

反義詞
  • claim victory

    direct opposite; asserting that you have won

  • hold out

    to continue resisting or competing despite difficulty

文法句型

concede defeat + (to)

concede + possessive + defeat

用法筆記

This phrase is used in competitive contexts such as elections, sports, games, legal disputes, or business rivalries. It implies a final, often public acknowledgement of loss. Frequently used in formal or official language.

常見錯誤

❌He conceded defeat that he was wrong.
✅He conceded defeat when he lost the debate.
💡'concede defeat' is a fixed phrase describing acceptance of losing, not a verb taking a clause about being wrong.
❌She conceded defeat her opponent.
✅She conceded defeat to her opponent.
💡when stating who won, use the preposition 'to'.
❌I conceded defeat of making a mistake.
✅I conceded defeat after losing the race.
💡'concede defeat' is about losing a contest, not about admitting an error.