conquer

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English conqueren, from Old French conquerre, from Late Latin conquaerere (“to knock, strike; to search for, procure”), from Latin con- + quaerere (“to seek, acquire”). Displaced native Old English oferwinnan.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈkɒŋkə/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈkɑŋkɚ/
  • Hyphenation: con‧quer
  • Rhymes: -ɒŋkə(ɹ)
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Homophone: conker

Verb

conquer (third-person singular simple present conquers, present participle conquering, simple past and past participle conquered)

  1. To defeat in combat; to subjugate.
    Synonym: overrun
  2. To become a leader, decisive factor or champion in an area.
    With her successes, she has truly conquered the committee, all of whose members now defer to her on most issues.
    It was his campaign manager's strategy that truly conquered the election for him.
    By the end of the season, he had conquered the sport of baseball.
  3. To acquire by force of arms, win in war; to become ruler of; to subjugate.
    In 1453, the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople.
  4. To overcome an abstract obstacle.
    Today I conquered my fear of flying by finally boarding a plane.
    to conquer difficulties or temptations
  5. (dated) To gain, win, or obtain by effort.
    to conquer freedom;   to conquer a peace

Conjugation

Conjugation of conquer
infinitive (to) conquer
present tense past tense
1st-person singular conquer conquered
2nd-person singular conquer, conquerest† conquered, conqueredst†
3rd-person singular conquers, conquereth† conquered
plural conquer
subjunctive conquer conquered
imperative conquer —
participles conquering conquered

† Archaic or obsolete.

Derived terms

Translations

Middle English

Verb

conquer

  1. alternative form of conqueren
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