What does conceding mean?
Conceding is the present participle and gerund of the verb concede, meaning to admit that something is true or valid, often reluctantly or after initial resistance. It carries two main shades of use: acknowledging a fact or an opponent's argument ("she was forced to concede the point"), and formally accepting defeat in a competition, match, or election before every result has been counted. A third sense involves granting or giving up a right, privilege, or piece of territory. The word comes from Latin concedere, formed from cedere ('to yield') with the prefix com-, so at its heart lies the idea of giving way. Conceding frequently appears in political and legal discourse, where a candidate's concession speech is a familiar ritual of democratic life, and in everyday argument, where conceding a point signals fairness and intellectual honesty. Its tone ranges from formal to conversational, but it consistently implies reluctance: one concedes only when resistance has become untenable or grace demands it.
Admitting or acknowledging that something is true, valid, or rightful, especially after first denying or disputing it; also, yielding or granting something such as a point, right, or advantage.
"Even his critics were conceding that the reforms had worked."
Often used with a direct object (a point, defeat, an election) or with a that-clause.
The act or instance of admitting or yielding something, considered as an action or process.
"Her quick conceding of the disputed point defused the argument."
When a politician concedes an election, the word itself is a small surrender built into English — its Latin root literally means 'to yield' or 'give way'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of conceding
Conceding derives from the Latin verb concedere, composed of the prefix com- and cedere, meaning 'to go, withdraw, or yield'. The word entered English in the late sixteenth century as part of the wave of Latin borrowings that enriched the language during the Renaissance. It shares this root with related borrowings such as accede, recede, precede, and secede, all built on cedere, as well as the noun forms concession and concessionary.
Related word forms
How conceding is actually used
Register is neutral-to-formal; common in political, legal, sporting, and argumentative contexts. In debates, "conceding a point" signals intellectual honesty rather than total agreement.
Easily confused with conceding
"Concealing" means hiding something from view or knowledge, while "conceding" means admitting or yielding something — nearly opposite meanings despite similar spelling.