conquer

conquer — verb

1. to seize control of a territory or population through military strength; also, t

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to seize control of a territory or population through military strength; also, to defeat a rival decisively in a sport, game, or contest

例句

Mayumi's army conquered the coastal province after a long siege.

The old fortress was conquered by Ife's forces before sunrise.

passive: be conquered by [agent]

同義詞
  • defeat

    more general; can be used for any win in war, sports, or voting

  • vanquish

    literary and dramatic; suggests complete destruction of the opponent

  • subdue

    focuses on bringing under control rather than taking possession

  • overpower

    emphasizes physical or numerical strength rather than strategy

反義詞

文法句型

conquer + noun phrase (country / city / army)

be conquered by + noun phrase

conquer + noun phrase (opponent / rival / title)

用法筆記

Frequently used in historical and military narratives. In the military sense, this verb can appear without an object in fixed expressions such as 'they came, they saw, they conquered.' In sports contexts, it implies a clear and important victory rather than a routine win.

常見錯誤

❌The team conquered the match 2–0.
✅The team won the match 2
💡0.' — 'conquer' is too strong for everyday results; reserve it for decisive, high-stakes victories.
❌She conquered the puzzle in five minutes.
✅She solved the puzzle in five minutes.
💡'conquer' suggests a significant challenge, not a minor task.

2. to successfully stop or gain control over a difficulty, bad habit, illness, or f

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to successfully stop or gain control over a difficulty, bad habit, illness, or fear that has been troubling you

例句

Kabir finally conquered his fear of flying after taking lessons.

collocation: conquer a fear

Wren is determined to conquer her habit of checking her phone at night.

collocation: conquer a habit

同義詞
  • overcome

    very close in meaning, slightly less forceful; works in the same contexts

  • surmount

    more formal; focuses on rising above an obstacle

  • master

    suggests gaining skill or control through practice

  • beat

    informal; common in everyday speech ('beat an addiction')

反義詞

文法句型

conquer + noun phrase (fear / habit / problem / disease)

用法筆記

The object is typically a persistent personal struggle — fear, addiction, shyness, a bad habit, or a serious illness. Not used for minor everyday inconveniences (e.g., a headache, a small chore). 'Overcome' is a near-synonym that often sounds slightly less forceful.

常見錯誤

❌She conquered her cold in two days.
✅She got over her cold in two days.
💡'conquer' is too dramatic for a minor illness; reserve it for serious health challenges.

3. to win the admiration and enthusiasm of people in a particular place or field, b

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to win the admiration and enthusiasm of people in a particular place or field, becoming widely liked or followed

例句

Liam's debut album conquered audiences across South America.

collocation: conquer an audience

Inês's food truck conquered the city with its spicy noodle bowls.

同義詞
  • captivate

    focuses on charm and attraction rather than reach

  • win over

    suggests gradually earning people's approval

  • take by storm

    idiomatic; implies rapid, dramatic success

反義詞
  • repel

    to drive away rather than attract

  • fail in

    opposite outcome — not achieving popularity

文法句型

conquer + noun phrase (audience / market / city / world)

用法筆記

Often used in entertainment, food, fashion, and technology contexts. The subject is typically a performer, product, business, or creative work. Unlike sense 1, there is no implication of force — the popularity is earned through appeal or talent.

常見錯誤

❌The new café conquered three customers on its first day.
✅The new café attracted three customers on its first day.
💡'conquer' implies broad popularity across a whole place or community, not individual sales.