verb
cede
seed
verb
1
To formally give up land, rights, or power to someone else.
"The treaty forced the country to cede a large stretch of territory."
"She reluctantly ceded control of the company to the new board."
How to Use Cede
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo hand over or surrender something, often formally.
Common mistake
Not to be confused with "seed" (they sound alike) — cede always means to give up or yield something.
Easily confused with
seed →
secede
Common pairings
cede territory
cede ground
cede control
cede power
Word Forms
ceded past tense, cedes singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “cede”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The treaty forced the country to _____ a large stretch of territory.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French ceder, from Latin cedere ("to yield, withdraw") — the same root behind "concede," "precede," and "recede."