capitulate
/kəˈpɪ.tjʊ.leɪt/
Group 30Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; to surrender GRE
Example in Context
After weeks of mounting pressure, the government capitulated to the protesters' demands and agreed to hold an independent investigation.
Synonyms
surrendergive inyield
Etymology
To surrender, as if giving up one's head in defeat.
- caput (Latin) — head
- later (Latin) — to surrender
Memory Aid
⏰Sounds like “cap it late”
A soldier yelling, 'I’ll CAPITULATE if you just let me be late for dinner!' while waving a white flag!
Visual Association
🏳️A warrior dramatically throwing down their sword and raising a white flag in a grand gesture of surrender.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “capitulate” mean on the GRE?
capitulate (verb) means “To cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand; to surrender”. After weeks of mounting pressure, the government capitulated to the protesters' demands and agreed to hold an independent investigation.
How to remember “capitulate” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “capitulate” sounds like “cap it late”. A soldier yelling, 'I’ll CAPITULATE if you just let me be late for dinner!' while waving a white flag!
What are synonyms for “capitulate”?
Common synonyms: surrender, give in, yield.