conquer

[ kong-ker ]

verb (used with object)

1. to acquire by force of arms; win in war:

   to conquer a foreign land.

2. to overcome by force; subdue:

   to conquer an enemy.

   Synonyms: subjugate, overthrow, overpower, vanquish

3. to gain, win, or obtain by effort, personal appeal, etc.:

   conquer the hearts of his audience.

4. to gain a victory over; surmount; master; overcome:

   to conquer disease and poverty; to conquer one's fear.

verb (used without object)

1. to be victorious; make conquests; gain the victory:

   Despite their differences, their love will conquer.

conquer

/ ˈkɒŋkə /

verb

1. to overcome (an enemy, army, etc); defeat
2. to overcome (an obstacle, feeling, desire, etc); surmount
3. tr to gain possession or control of by or as if by force or war; win
4. tr to gain the love, sympathy, etc, of (someone) by seduction or force of personality

Derived Forms

• ˈconquering, adjective
• ˈconquerableness, noun
• ˈconqueror, noun
• ˈconquerable, adjective

Other Words From

• con·quer·a·ble adjective
• con·quer·a·ble·ness noun
• con·quer·ing·ly adverb
• half-con·quered adjective
• pre·con·quer verb (used with object)
• re·con·quer verb (used with object)
• un·con·quer·a·ble adjective
• un·con·quered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conquer¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English conqueren, from Anglo-French conquerir, Old French conquerre, from Vulgar Latin conquērere (unrecorded) “to acquire,” from Latin conquīrere “to seek out”; con-, query

Word History and Origins

Origin of conquer¹

C13: from Old French conquerre, from Vulgar Latin conquērere (unattested) to obtain, from Latin conquīrere to search for, collect, from quaerere to seek

Idioms and Phrases

see divide and conquer .

Synonym Study

See defeat.

Example Sentences

But as dominant as he’s been all season — and as essential as he’s been to USC’s operation — the punter says he isn’t satisfied with just conquering college football.

From Los Angeles Times

The US Open eluded him the longest, but when he conquered New York in 2010, he became the youngest man in the Open era to complete the career Grand Slam.

From BBC

"I feel like I can conquer the world!"

From BBC

Since 1994, McKagan has traveled back and forth between his native Seattle and the place where his band came together before conquering the world.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump needs "enemies" that he is forever threatening to conquer.

From Salon

Related Words

• crush
• overthrow
• quell
• rout
• subdue
• subjugate
• surmount
• vanquish