capitulate

/kəˈpɪtʃuleɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [kəpˈɪtʃulɪt] /kəˈpɪtʃuleɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [kəpˈɪtʃulɪt] /kə-ˈpi-chə-ˌlāt How to pronounce capitulate (audio)/ (ame, mw)

capitulate — verb

  • capitulatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • capitulateshe / she / it
  • capitulatedpast simple
  • capitulating-ing form

1. to stop fighting and admit that the other side has won, usually when you can no

1.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to stop fighting and admit that the other side has won, usually when you can no longer defend yourself

例句

After three days without water, the rebel fighters capitulated at dawn.

military surrender after resistance

The city capitulated when enemy tanks reached the main square.

subject can be a city or fort, not only soldiers

同義詞
  • surrender

    the closest everyday word; can be less formal than capitulate

  • yield

    more formal and often used for giving way to stronger force

  • give in

    more informal and broader; not limited to conflict situations

反義詞
  • resist

    to continue opposing or fighting

  • hold out

    to keep resisting for a period of time

文法句型

capitulate

capitulate + to + [enemy/authority]

用法筆記

Common in war reports, historical writing, and armed-standoff coverage. The subject is usually an army, city, fort, or other group, and to + noun phrase names the side that gains control.

常見錯誤

❌Lina capitulated her opponent after one set.
✅Lina defeated her opponent after one set.
💡'Capitulate' is intransitive; the losing side capitulates, not the winner.
❌The soldiers capitulated the border town by noon.
✅The soldiers captured the border town by noon.
💡'Capitulate' means stop resisting, not take control of a place.

2. to finally give way to pressure and do what you had kept refusing, even though y

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to finally give way to pressure and do what you had kept refusing, even though you still do not want to

例句

After weeks of complaints, the landlord capitulated and fixed the heater.

capitulate and + verb after pressure

Talia would not capitulate to her boss's demand for unpaid overtime.

capitulate to + demand

同義詞
  • give in

    the everyday choice for yielding after pressure

  • back down

    focuses on leaving a public position or challenge

  • acquiesce

    formal and quieter; suggests acceptance with less open struggle

反義詞
  • stand firm

    to keep the same position despite pressure

  • refuse

    to say no and keep resisting

文法句型

capitulate + to + [pressure/demand]

capitulate + under + [pressure]

capitulate + and + [verb]

用法筆記

Usually used when repeated demands, criticism, or negotiation wear someone down. It is stronger and more formal than simply saying agree, and often appears with to + demand or under pressure.

常見錯誤

❌The manager capitulated the workers' request.
✅The manager capitulated to the workers' request.
💡Use capitulate to, not a direct object, when someone yields to pressure.
❌After a long talk, I capitulated to help him.
✅After a long talk, I capitulated and agreed to help him.
💡Do not put an infinitive directly after 'capitulate'.