conquer

/ˈkɑŋkər/

/ˈkɒnkə/

Other forms: conquered; conquering; conquers

To conquer is to defeat someone or something, usually with force, like army troops that conquer enemy territory, or your lunchtime hunger which you conquer with a sandwich and cup of soup.

To correctly pronounce conquer, accent the first syllable: "CON-kur." It comes from the Old French word conquerre, meaning "defeat, vanquish." Use conquer to show you've gained control over something, like doing breathing exercises as the airplane takes off to help you conquer your fear of flying. You'll hear people say they've conquered Mount McKinley, or the Appalachian Trail. It means they've hiked and climbed the whole route, not declared the place theirs alone.

Definitions of conquer

1. verb

   take possession of by force, as after an invasion
   synonyms: appropriate, capture, seize

   types:

   carry

   capture after a fight

   type of:

   arrogate, assume, seize, take over, usurp

   seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession
2. verb

   overcome by conquest
   “conquer your fears”

   “conquer a country”

   type of:

   defeat, get the better of, overcome

   win a victory over
3. verb

   to put down by force or authority
   “conquer one's desires”

   synonyms: curb, inhibit, stamp down, subdue, suppress

   types:

   blink, blink away, wink

   force to go away by blinking

   dampen, stifle

   smother or suppress

   choke back, choke down, choke off

   suppress

   hush, hush up, quieten, shut up, silence, still

   cause to be quiet or not talk

   burke

   get rid of, silence, or suppress

   silence

   keep from expression, for example by threats or pressure

   quell, quench, squelch

   suppress or crush completely

   muffle, repress, smother, stifle, strangle

   conceal or hide

   shush

   silence (someone) by uttering 'shush!'

   choke, suffocate

   suppress the development, creativity, or imagination of

   calm down, lull

   become quiet or less intensive

   shout down

   silence or overwhelm by shouting

   gag, muzzle

   prevent from speaking out

   type of:

   check, contain, control, curb, hold, hold in, moderate

   lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
4. verb

   get on top of; deal with successfully
   synonyms: get over, master, overcome, subdue, surmount

   types:

   bulldog

   throw a steer by seizing the horns and twisting the neck, as in a rodeo

   type of:

   beat, beat out, crush, shell, trounce, vanquish

   come out better in a competition, race, or conflict