conquer

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "conquer" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb that means to gain control or overcome something. Example: She was determined to conquer her fear of public speaking.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He first appeared with the Union theatre repertory company (later renamed the Melbourne theatre company) in 1960 in She Stoops to Conquer.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

This seems unlikely to be the production with which the Mikhailovsky will conquer New York.

The Guardian

It was always clear that to meet the 2020 goal, UK exporters would need to conquer markets beyond the eurozone.

The Guardian - Business

Not content with annexing every dinner party conversation and huge swathes of the television schedules, England's Greed is Good division set out to conquer the world with Game 39, or the international round: a proposal, unveiled in February last year, to play 10 games between the 20 Premier League clubs each January, in different cities and time-zones around the world.

The Guardian - Sport

The man who famously replied "because it's there" to a journalist who asked why he felt driven to conquer Everest, died on his third attempt on the mountain in 1924.

The Guardian

Mostly the speech hailed the success of "denationalisation" (as privatisation was still called), the need to conquer inflation, tame the unions, cut tax ("too high") and reform Europe.

The Guardian

When I was 18, Paddy and I formed a  band, She Talks to Angels (pictured above), with Shane Meadows, and we thought we were going to conquer the world.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Orsini is supposed to bump the count off so Cesare can conquer his fictional domain of Citta del Monte, but in the event he gets self-righteous and switches sides.

The Guardian - Film

The proposed economics look like a version of 18th-century mercantilism: conquer a castle, set up your trading post there, exploit need and scarcity.

The Guardian - Opinion

They had invented a technology that would conquer the world.

The Guardian - Books

He was not ruthless enough, or nasty enough, or willing enough to stoop to conquer.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "conquer" when you want to emphasize overcoming significant obstacles or gaining control through effort and determination. It conveys a sense of triumph and mastery.

Common error

Avoid using "conquer" in overly casual situations where simpler verbs like "overcome" or "manage" would be more appropriate. "Conquer" often carries a connotation of significant challenge or victory, which may sound exaggerated in everyday contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "conquer" is that of a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being overcome or controlled. Ludwig AI confirms this with examples such as "conquer the world" or "conquer his stammer".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conquer" is a versatile transitive verb used to describe overcoming obstacles, achieving victory, or gaining control. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage, and the examples demonstrate its prevalence in news, business, and scientific contexts. While grammatically sound, it’s best to reserve "conquer" for situations that genuinely involve significant challenges or acts of domination to avoid sounding hyperbolic. Related terms such as "overcome" and "defeat" offer suitable alternatives depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overcome

Implies successfully dealing with or gaining control over something difficult.

defeat

Suggests winning against an opponent in a competition or battle.

subjugate

Indicates bringing someone or something under domination or control, often by force.

vanquish

Suggests a complete and decisive victory over an enemy.

master

Implies gaining comprehensive knowledge or skill in a particular area.

dominate

Indicates having control or power over others.

seize

Implies taking hold of something quickly and decisively.

capture

Suggests gaining possession or control of someone or something, often by force or skill.

secure

Indicates obtaining something safely and firmly.

achieve

Focuses on successfully reaching a desired goal or result after effort.

FAQs

How to use "conquer" in a sentence?

You can use "conquer" to describe overcoming a fear, like in "She aimed to conquer her fear of heights", or achieving victory over an enemy, such as "The army set out to conquer the neighboring territory".

What can I say instead of "conquer"?

You can use alternatives like "overcome", "defeat", or "master" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "conquer" or "be conquered"?

"Conquer" is an active verb indicating the act of overcoming. "Be conquered" is passive and indicates being overcome or defeated by someone else. For instance, "The city was conquered by invaders" uses the passive form.

What's the difference between "conquer" and "defeat"?

"Conquer" implies gaining control or dominion after a victory. "Defeat" simply means winning against an opponent but doesn't necessarily mean establishing long-term control. For example, you can defeat an opponent in a game without conquering them.