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Definitions

give ground

VERB
back down
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abandon admit back off back out backtrack balk cancel cave in concede give in give up pull back pull out renege retreat surrender take back withdraw
WEAK
accede acquiesce back pedal beg off bow out chicken out cop out demur go back on have no fight left hold back recant recoil resign submit wimp out withdraw from agreement or statement yield
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance allow dispute dissent fight permit refuse reject uphold
WEAK
go forward
VERB
retire
Synonyms
STRONGEST
depart go pull out relinquish remove retreat separate surrender withdraw
STRONG
decamp ebb exit part recede regress repeal rescind resign revoke rusticate secede yield
WEAK
absent oneself deny oneself draw back fall back get away get off give up work give way go away go to bed go to one's room go to sleep hand over hit the sack leave service make vacant pull back run along seclude oneself sever connections stop working take off turn in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance continue remain stay
STRONG
approve arrive come in increase join
WEAK
begin enter
VERB
retreat
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abandon back down back off backtrack depart escape evacuate fall back go go back hide leave pull out recede reel retire reverse shrink withdraw
STRONG
avoid back decamp disengage ebb elude evade fold quail quit recoil regress relinquish resign retrograde run sequester vacate
WEAK
back away back out beat it cave in draw back go along with hand over keep aloof keep apart lay down move back opt out retrocede seclude oneself start back turn tail
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance come continue enter forge forward go forward keep meet remain stay
STRONG
face take on
VERB
submit
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acknowledge agree defer surrender
STRONG
abide accede acquiesce appease bend bow buckle capitulate cave cede concede fold humor indulge knuckle kowtow obey quit relent relinquish stoop succumb tolerate truckle withstand yield
WEAK
be submissive eat crow give away give in give way go with the flow grin and bear it knuckle under lay down arms put up with resign oneself say uncle throw in the towel toe the line
Antonyms
STRONGEST
contradict refuse
STRONG
continue defend deny disagree disallow disapprove dispute dissent fight flatten leave protest reject stop straighten veto win
WEAK
conceal disobey dissuade hide resist
VERB
superannuate
Synonyms
STRONG
decamp depart ebb exit go part pension recede regress relinquish remove repeal rescind resign retreat revoke rusticate secede separate surrender withdraw yield
WEAK
absent oneself deny oneself draw back fall back get away get off give up work give way go away go to bed go to one's room go to sleep hand over hit the sack leave service make vacant pull back pull out put out to pasture run along seclude oneself sever connections stop working take off turn in
Antonyms
STRONG
advance allow approve arrive combine come come in enter forge increase join permit remain stay unite
VERB
withdraw
Synonyms
STRONGEST
depart disengage drop out eliminate go leave pull back pull out quit retire retreat
STRONG
abjure blow book detach exit extract quail recede recoil secede shrink switch vacate
WEAK
absent oneself back out bail out bow out check out draw away draw back ease out exfiltrate fall back get away get lost get off give way keep aloof keep apart make oneself scarce phase out run along seclude oneself take a hike take away take leave take off take out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
begin come continue engage enter join keep persevere stay
STRONG
arrive combine come in face meet unite
WEAK
advance allow permit remain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Sheinbaum’s negotiators look ready to give ground on technical issues like increasing U.S. content thresholds for North American cars or restraining Chinese “back door” investment in Mexico.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

If the SFA didn't give ground, then what significant inroads were made in the hours it took to reach a resolution?

From BBC • Sep. 14, 2023

The 24-year-old Mbappé is locked in a contract standoff and neither side seems prepared to give ground.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 27, 2023

But the endeavor faces long odds, with little evidence that either side is willing to give ground on a debate that has been stalled for years.

From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2022

He thought reason, opinion and authority should all give ground before experience, but he lacked the language in which to express this simple idea.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton