cede it to

USAGE SUMMARY

"cede it to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something being given or conceded to someone else. For example, "The company was forced to cede it to the union during the negotiation process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

And Republicans are not likely to cede it to Mr. Barber.

The New York Times

Labour can join that conversation or cede it to the right.

The Guardian - Opinion

Her husband, King Kojong, remained on the throne until 1907, when he was forced to cede it to his son.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And it would essentially seal the United States off from the river and cede it to Mexico: lopping off our nose to spite their face.

The New Yorker

Mr. Arafat has retained control of most of the Palestinian security forces, and he is refusing to cede it to Mr. Abbas.

The New York Times

The duchy resisted Burgundian domination, but William the Rich (duke of Jülich, Cleves, and Berg) was forced to cede it to Charles V in 1543, after which it formed part of the Burgundian-Habsburg hereditary lands.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Many at the bank are still sore that the defender of the D-mark has lost its grip on monetary policy, ceding it to a bank that only partly follows its thinking.

The Economist

by its author, who has ceded it to the public domain.

University of Chicago

Even today, 136 years after the Ottomans ceded it to Austria-Hungary, Bosnia-Hercegovina shows many signs of its nearly four centuries of Turkish rule: the architecture, the occasional shared word, the complimentary glass of rakija after dinner.

BBC

In 338 Athens ceded it to Philip of Macedon.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was part of the country until the Qing dynasty ceded it to Britain in 1897.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cede it to" when you want to emphasize a formal or reluctant transfer of power, rights, or territory. It's often used in political or business contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "cede it to" when a simple 'give' or 'hand over' would suffice. "Cede" implies a loss or yielding of something significant, not just a casual transfer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cede it to" functions as a phrasal verb indicating the act of relinquishing or surrendering something, often power, control, or territory. Ludwig shows examples in both political and business contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

21%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Science

15%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cede it to" is a phrasal verb denoting the act of formally relinquishing something, typically power, control, or territory. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically sound and appropriate for formal contexts, especially in news and media, as shown in Ludwig's examples. While synonyms like "surrender it to" or "relinquish it to" exist, "cede it to" carries a nuance of formality and often implies a sense of loss or yielding. Therefore, writers should use it judiciously, considering the context and desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surrender it to

Implies a forced or unwilling giving up of something.

relinquish it to

Suggests a formal or voluntary giving up of control or possession.

hand it over to

A more informal way of saying to give something to someone.

give it up to

A colloquial term meaning to surrender or relinquish something.

transfer it to

Focuses on the act of moving something from one party to another.

yield it to

Suggests giving way under pressure or influence.

consign it to

Implies entrusting something to someone for a specific purpose.

assign it to

Highlights the act of allocating something to someone.

grant it to

Suggests formally giving or bestowing something.

entrust it to

Implies giving someone responsibility for something.

FAQs

How can I use "cede it to" in a sentence?

You can use "cede it to" to describe a formal transfer of power or territory, as in, "The company was forced to cede its market share to its competitor."

What is a synonym for "cede it to"?

Alternatives to "cede it to" include "relinquish it to", "surrender it to", or "hand it over to", depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "cede" in informal contexts?

While grammatically correct, "cede" is more suited for formal or serious contexts. In informal situations, simpler alternatives like "give" or "pass" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "cede it to" and "give it to"?

"Cede it to" implies a formal or reluctant transfer, often involving power or territory, while "give it to" is a more general and neutral way of describing the act of giving something.