To capitulate means to surrender or give up, especially after trying hard to resist. When an army capitulates, it stops fighting and admits defeat. When a castle under siege capitulates, the defenders open the gates and yield to their enemy.

The word carries a sense of reluctant surrender after holding out as long as possible. It's different from giving up at the first sign of trouble. When negotiators capitulate to demands, they've been worn down and finally accept terms they didn't want. When someone capitulates to pressure from their friends, they've resisted for a while but eventually cave in.

You might hear about a country capitulating in a war, or a company capitulating to workers' demands during a strike. In everyday situations, a tired parent might finally capitulate and let their children stay up late, or students might try to make their teacher capitulate and cancel a difficult assignment.

The word suggests a complete giving in rather than a compromise. When you capitulate, you're not meeting halfway or finding middle ground. You're accepting the other side's terms, usually because you're exhausted, outnumbered, or out of options. It's the moment when resistance finally breaks down and someone admits they can't hold out any longer.