surrender

UK: /səˈrɛndə^r/ US: /səˈrɛndɚ/ ,(sə ren′dər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sur•ren•der /səˈrɛndɚ/   v. 

1. to give oneself up, as into the power of another, as by agreeing to stop fighting because of defeat:
   [no object* (~ + to + object)] The enemy formally surrendered to the Allies.
2. to yield (something) to the possession of another, as after defeat:
   [~ + object (+ to + object)] to surrender the fort to the enemy.
3. to give (oneself ) up, as to the police:
   [~ (+ oneself)] After twenty hours of a stalemate the gunman surrendered (himself) to the police.
4. to give (oneself ) up to some influence, course, etc.:
   [~ (+ oneself) + to + object] to surrender (oneself) to greed.

n. 

5. an act or instance of surrendering:
   [uncountable] The Allies are trying to starve the country into surrender.
   [countable] The enemy signed a formal surrender.

See -rend-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sur•ren•der  (sə ren′dər), v.t. 

1. to yield (something) to the possession or power of another;
   deliver up possession of on demand or under duress:
   to surrender the fort to the enemy; to surrender the stolen goods to the police.
2. to give (oneself ) up, as to the police.
3. to give (oneself ) up to some influence, course, emotion, etc.:
   He surrendered himself to a life of hardship.
4. to give up, abandon, or relinquish (comfort, hope, etc.).
5. to yield or resign (an office, privilege, etc.) in favor of another.

v.i. 

6. to give oneself up, as into the power of another;
   submit or yield.

n. 

7. the act or an instance of surrendering.
8. Business [Insurance.] the voluntary abandonment of a life-insurance policy by the owner for any of its nonforfeiture values.
9. Law the deed by which a legal surrendering is made.

• Anglo-French; Old French surrendre, noun, nominal use of the infinitive
• Anglo-French surrender, Old French surrendre to give up, equivalent. to sur- sur-¹ + rendre to render; (noun, nominal)
• (verb, verbal) late Middle English surrendren 1425–75

sur•ren′der•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See yield. 
• 4. renounce.
• 5. waive, cede, abandon, forgo.
• 6. capitulate.
• 7. capitulation, relinquishment.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

surrender / səˈrɛndə/ verb

1. (transitive) to relinquish to the control or possession of another under duress or on demand: to surrender a city
2. (transitive) to relinquish or forego (an office, position, etc), esp as a voluntary concession to another: he surrendered his place to a lady
3. to give (oneself) up physically, as or as if to an enemy
4. to allow (oneself) to yield, as to a temptation, influence, etc
5. (transitive) to give up (hope, etc)
6. (transitive) to give up or restore (an estate), esp to give up a lease before expiration of the term
7. surrender to bail ⇒ to present oneself at court at the appointed time after having been on bail

noun

1. the act or instance of surrendering
2. the voluntary discontinuation of a life policy by its holder in return for a consideration (the surrender value)
3. the yielding up or restoring of an estate, esp the giving up of a lease before its term has expired
4. the giving up to the appropriate authority of a fugitive from justice
5. the act of surrendering or being surrendered to bail
6. the deed by which a legal surrender is effected

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French surrendre to yield, from sur-¹ + rendre to render