capitulation

/kəˌpɪtʃuˈleɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · [kəpˌɪtʃəlˈeʃən] /kəˌpɪtʃuˈleɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · [kəpˌɪtʃəlˈeʃən] /kə-ˌpi-chə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce capitulation (audio)/ (ame, mw)

capitulation — noun

1. the formal act of stopping resistance and admitting that the other side has won

1.名詞C1
釋義

the formal act of stopping resistance and admitting that the other side has won

例句

The army's capitulation came after ten days without food or medicine.

possessive: army's capitulation

News of the city's capitulation spread across the border before sunrise.

同義詞
  • surrender

    the everyday word; capitulation is more formal and often more official

  • submission

    broader and can describe yielding to authority outside war

  • yielding

    more literary and less tied to a formal military outcome

反義詞

文法句型

capitulation + of + [army/city/group]

capitulation + to + [enemy/force]

[possessor] + capitulation

用法筆記

Most common in formal reports about war, siege, or armed conflict. It often appears with a possessive subject naming the side that gives up, or with to naming the stronger side.

常見錯誤

❌The general made a capitulation of the enemy.
✅The general forced the enemy to capitulate.
💡'Capitulation' is the act of the side that gives up, not the side that wins.
❌The army's capitulation means they captured the bridge.
✅The army's capitulation means they stopped resisting and lost control.
💡'Capitulation' means surrender, not victory.

2. an unwilling decision to accept demands or do something after resisting repeated

2.名詞C1
釋義

an unwilling decision to accept demands or do something after resisting repeated pressure

例句

The minister's capitulation to public pressure shocked his closest allies.

capitulation to + pressure

After months of meetings, the landlord's capitulation ended the rent increase.

同義詞
  • concession

    can be smaller and less dramatic; capitulation suggests a larger loss of ground

  • submission

    stronger in power relationships; can sound more personal or total

  • acquiescence

    quieter and less public; often suggests passive acceptance

反義詞
  • resistance

    continuing to oppose demands or pressure

  • refusal

    a direct decision not to agree

文法句型

capitulation + to + [pressure/demand/group]

see + something + as + capitulation

deny + that + something + is + capitulation

用法筆記

Usually used when a government, company, or other powerful group finally gives in after repeated pressure. It sounds stronger and more critical than simple agreement because it implies earlier resistance.

常見錯誤

❌Her capitulation shows she happily supported the plan from the start.
✅Her capitulation shows she finally gave in after resisting the plan.
💡'Capitulation' implies pressure and earlier opposition, not eager support.
❌The team reached a capitulation after two short talks.
✅The team reached an agreement after two short talks.
💡use 'capitulation' only when one side gives in unwillingly.