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to submit

to submit

187 4.1
To accept another person's control, often against your wishes
  • verb
  • /səbˈmɪt/
translation icon : someterse a
  • The soldiers had no choice but to submit to their commanding officer's orders.
  • submit to authority
  • be forced to submit
  • submit to examinations

They're used to women having to submit to their husbands.

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Examples

  • God is good and you submit to him, fully submit to him.

  • But you have to completely submit to the algorithm.

  • And then the artist should have to submit to that toward the end.

  • Some might find it hard to submit to a woman.

  • The judge declared that it was "the duty of every Christian to submit to civil authority."

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Most felt that there was nothing to do but submit to the new tribulation.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I sat down on the stool in front of her and submitted to examination.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Students not only submit written assignments but also teach a collaborative lesson that one of us observes.

    Academic text (2013)
  • If you don't cooperate, if you don't submit, I will use it against you.

  • And I'll no longer submit to your petty insults and humiliations.

Synonyms

to surrender
vsto submit
722 4.4

To stop fighting and give control or things to someone else, often when forced

can include willing or procedural acceptance, not only forced loss
to turn in
vsto submit
291 3.3

To give a person or thing to the police

covers personal yielding to control or outcome rather than literal handing over
to give in
vsto submit
220 3.0

To stop resisting and agree to what others want

accepts authority or outcome often without full agreement
to bow
vsto submit
127 6.3

To give in to another person's wishes or demands

covers yielding to authority or outcomes beyond simple social gestures
to yield
vsto submit
81 4.3

To stop resisting under pressure or force

covers accepting authority broadly, not only physical pressure
to succumb to
vsto submit
69 5.8

Fail to resist a strong feeling or pressure and give in

focuses on accepting external control or an imposed outcome
to resign
vsto submit
52 5.1

Accept an unpleasant situation you cannot change

involves yielding to external control rather than personal resignation
to succumb
vsto submit
43 7.0

To accept something you tried to refuse

can be earlier or more general acceptance of authority
to defer
vsto submit
  • Formal
36 6.2

To accept another person's opinion or decision out of respect

can be unwilling acceptance without respect as main motive
to relent
vsto submit
31 5.8

To stop resisting and allow something to happen, like a person giving in or a storm easing

is broader acceptance of authority rather than gradual softening
to capitulate
vsto submit
23 8.4

To stop fighting back and accept defeat or demands

is not limited to opposing forces and covers wider yielding
to acquiesce
vsto submit
  • Formal
20 8.4

To accept something you do not want without complaining

involves yielding to control rather than quiet personal acceptance
to concede
vsto submit
13 5.5

To give something to another person or group against your will

focuses on accepting control or outcome rather than conceding facts
to accede
vsto submit
  • Formal
7 8.2

To agree to a request or demand after hesitation

includes yielding to control more broadly, not only granting requests
to cave to
vsto submit
  • Informal
5 7.6

To give in to pressure or demands from others

is broader yielding to authority or an outcome rather than only pressure
to yield up
vsto submit
1 7.4

Give something to another person because you are forced to do so

includes accepting authority or outcomes beyond losing possessions
7.1

To do what someone else wants even if you do not want to

is general acceptance of authority or outcome, not only interpersonal will

Antonyms

311 2.2

Act against authority, rules or change

178 3.7

Openly refuse to obey someone or seem to resist a force like time

Phrasal Verbs

1 8.2

To give a written statement you swear is true to a court

To hand in homework to a teacher or online for grading

How Compliant

to surrender
722 4.4
to submit
187 4.1
to give in
220 3.0
to acquiesce
  • Formal
20 8.4
to comply
332 3.8

Surface Forms

submit infinitive
submitted past
submitted past participle
submitting present participle
submits third person singular

Morphology

submit = sub + mit

Although the word historically contains the prefix 'sub-' and the bound root 'mit', an average learner cannot infer the sense 'yield to authority or control' from these parts in modern English.

Etymology

Submit comes from Latin parts sub- 'under' and mittere 'to send'. So to submit to someone is like 'sending yourself under' their power, meaning you accept their control.