To concede means to admit that something is true, even when you'd prefer it wasn't. When you concede a point in an argument, you acknowledge that the other person has made a good argument, even if you still disagree with their overall conclusion. A student might concede that they forgot to study for a quiz, or a friend might concede that they were wrong about what time the movie started.

Conceding often takes courage because it means setting aside your pride and being honest about reality. When a chess player sees no way to win, they might concede the game by tipping over their king. When a candidate loses an election, they typically concede defeat by congratulating the winner and accepting the results, even though losing hurts.

The word also means to give up or surrender something, usually reluctantly. A country might concede territory after losing a war, or you might concede the last slice of pizza to your hungry sibling.

Notice that conceding is different from giving up too easily or being weak. Sometimes conceding shows wisdom: recognizing the truth, accepting what you can't change, and moving forward with grace rather than fighting a battle you've already lost.