What does conquer mean?
Conquer is a verb meaning to gain control of something by force, especially a territory or people won through warfare, as when empires conquered neighbouring lands. Over time the word has broadened into powerful figurative use: people speak of conquering their fears, conquering a difficult illness, or conquering a mountain, always implying a hard-won victory over something that resists. It also appears in competition and romance contexts, such as conquering a rival or winning someone's heart. The word derives from Latin via Old French, sharing roots with conquest and related terms of acquisition. Its connotation is one of triumph and mastery, sometimes with an undertone of aggression when used of armies and rulers. Because it dramatises effort and success so vividly, conquer remains a favourite choice in speeches, headlines, and motivational writing wherever a decisive, hard-earned victory is being described.
verbTo take control of a country, city, or people by force of arms; more broadly, to overcome or master an obstacle, emotion, problem, or opponent through determined effort.
- To gain control of a land or people by military force.
- To overcome an obstacle, fear, illness, habit, or personal challenge.
- To win a contest, competition, or the admiration or affection of someone (often figurative).
"The Norman duke set out to conquer England in 1066."
"William the Conqueror defeated Harold at Hastings and went on to conquer all of England."
"After months of practice, she finally conquered her fear of public speaking."
Julius Caesar reportedly summed up his speed and decisiveness with the Latin phrase 'veni, vidi, vici' — I came, I saw, I conquered.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of conquer
Conquer entered English from Old French 'conquerre', itself derived from the Latin verb 'conquirere', meaning to seek out, search for, and ultimately to acquire or win. The prefix 'con-' (together, thoroughly) combines with 'quaerere' (to seek), the same root that gives us quest, question, acquire, and inquire. The word arrived in Middle English around the thirteenth century, initially in the context of military conquest before developing its broader figurative senses of overcoming obstacles and emotions.
Related word forms
How conquer is actually used
Conquer carries strong connotations of force and finality when applied to nations or peoples, but in modern everyday use it is most often figurative, applied to fears, challenges, and ambitions. The figurative sense can sound dramatic or slightly grandiose in casual speech; 'overcome' or 'beat' are often more neutral alternatives.
Easily confused with conquer
'Concour' is not an English word — the confusion is usually with 'concur', which means to agree, whereas 'conquer' means to defeat or overcome.