Submission means giving in to someone else's authority or power, or handing something in to be reviewed. When you turn in your homework, you're making a submission to your teacher. When a writer sends a story to a magazine, that's also a submission.

The word can describe accepting someone else's control or demands. In wrestling or martial arts, a fighter might force an opponent into submission by getting them in a hold they can't escape. A dog trainer works to earn a stubborn puppy's submission by teaching it to follow commands. Pirates who surrendered to the navy were said to have made their submission.

The word carries different feelings depending on the situation. Submitting your best work for a contest feels proud and hopeful. But being forced into submission suggests losing your freedom to choose. When you submit to a bully's demands, you're giving them control you didn't want to give up.

Notice that submission isn't always about weakness. Sometimes it's wise to submit: you submit to your coach's training plan because you trust their expertise. You submit to safety rules because they protect you. The key difference is whether the submission is forced or freely chosen, and whether it serves a good purpose.