capitulate to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "capitulate to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the act of surrendering or yielding to someone or something, often after a struggle or resistance. Example: "After months of negotiations, the company decided to capitulate to the demands of the striking workers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Human beings do not capitulate to horror readily or easily.

The Guardian - Books

His refusal suggested that he did not want to capitulate to the inmates, not that he did want to capitulate to them.

The New York Times

But Plumb wasn't about to capitulate to someone with such poor enunciation.

The New Yorker

I don't think we should just capitulate to the way things are.

The New Yorker

Amid reports that he might capitulate to fuel-tax protesters, speculation grew about a leadership challenge.

The Economist

"I would almost capitulate to either side rather than have these things go on," he said.

The New York Times

"They are protesting for the sake of protesting, and we shouldn't capitulate to that".

The New York Times

Despite the overtures, Yahoo is not ready to capitulate to Mr. Loeb's demands.

The New York Times

Mebazaa then announced that his government would capitulate to all the demands of the protest movement.

The New Yorker

Obama didn't completely capitulate to the multinationals, and he adopted his aides' modestly clipped package.

The New Yorker

Even so, to abandon Qatar now would be to capitulate to aggression and hubris.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "capitulate to" when you want to emphasize a complete surrender or yielding after some resistance. It's stronger than simply 'agreeing' and implies a loss of control or autonomy.

Common error

Avoid mistaking "capitulate to" (meaning to surrender) with "capitalize on" (meaning to take advantage of). They sound similar but have opposite meanings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "capitulate to" functions as a verb phrase taking a prepositional complement. It describes the action of surrendering or yielding. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct. Examples in Ludwig show its use across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

12%

Science

13%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "capitulate to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig. It signifies surrendering or yielding after resistance, often implying a reluctant or forced agreement. While used across various contexts, it is most prevalent in news and media, encyclopedia, and scientific writing. To enhance clarity, consider alternatives such as "give in to" or "yield to", and ensure it is not confused with the similar-sounding "capitalize on". The varied examples in Ludwig demonstrate its adaptability and nuances in conveying the act of surrendering.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give in to

Emphasizes succumbing to pressure or persuasion.

yield to

Suggests a formal or reluctant agreement.

submit to

Implies acceptance of authority or control.

surrender to

Highlights the act of ceasing resistance.

succumb to

Conveys a sense of being overwhelmed.

cave in to

Suggests a sudden or dramatic yielding.

bow to

Implies respect or deference in yielding.

acquiesce to

Indicates tacit agreement or passive acceptance.

defer to

Emphasizes yielding to someone's judgment or authority.

resign oneself to

Suggests acceptance of an undesirable situation.

FAQs

What does "capitulate to" mean?

"Capitulate to" means to surrender or give in to something, often after resistance. It implies yielding to pressure, demands, or a superior force.

What can I say instead of "capitulate to"?

You can use alternatives like "give in to", "yield to", or "submit to", depending on the specific context.

How is "capitulate to" used in a sentence?

Example: "After prolonged negotiations, the company had to "capitulate to" the union's demands."

Is it better to "capitulate to" or compromise?

Whether to "capitulate to" or compromise depends on the situation. "Capitulating to" implies complete surrender, while compromising involves a mutual agreement where both parties make concessions.