1
as in to relinquish
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
she reluctantly ceded her position as leader
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2
as in to assign
to give over the legal possession or ownership of
Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States as part of the settlement of the Spanish-American War
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3
as in to abdicate
to give up (as a position of authority) formally
the President officially cedes his position on the January 20th immediately following the presidential election
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cede
After six years of happily ceding the spotlight to higher-profile players like Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and Julius Randle, McDaniels offered up his commentary as a way of taking the focus off of his teammates and putting it onto his slender shoulders.
—
Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Other members who spoke to reporters at Nature News told the outlet that the board was set to meet on May 5 and planned to release a report on how the US is ceding ground to China on scientific endeavors.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
Scientists fear the moves will collapse broad investment in fundamental research and talent development, replacing it with a narrow focus on AI, while potentially ceding American scientific dominance to global competitors.
—National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Proponents argue that Congress never had the power to cede back the land and that the local referendum failed to meet the voting requirements outlined by Congress for retrocession.
—Jesse Bedayn, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cede
Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Other members who spoke to reporters at Nature News told the outlet that the board was set to meet on May 5 and planned to release a report on how the US is ceding ground to China on scientific endeavors.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 27 Apr. 2026
Scientists fear the moves will collapse broad investment in fundamental research and talent development, replacing it with a narrow focus on AI, while potentially ceding American scientific dominance to global competitors.
—National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Proponents argue that Congress never had the power to cede back the land and that the local referendum failed to meet the voting requirements outlined by Congress for retrocession.
—Jesse Bedayn, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cede
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cede
Verb
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The Royals took a 7-6 lead and never relinquished it.—
Jaylon Thompson
May 2,
Kansas City Star,
2 May 2026
-
The team will relinquish its district title and conduct a full audit of its athletic eligibility process.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Winner may not substitute, assign or transfer Prize or redeem Prize for cash, but Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to substitute Prize (or portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value.—
AJC.com,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
-
Grades are assigned using letters, with A as the best grade and F as the worst.—
Eva Flowe
Updated May 7,
Charlotte Observer,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The Republican Congress has seemingly abdicated its role as a branch of government that provides checks and balances and oversight of the executive.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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King Philippe ascended the throne in 2013 at age 53 after his father, King Albert II, abdicated at 79 due to health concerns.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After the Chiricahua Apache surrendered in 1886, the land became home to a family of Swedish immigrant settlers, the Ericksons.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
1 May 2026
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The use of the term caused alarm as international humanitarian law explicitly forbids armed forces from denying enemy combatants to surrender and instead killing them.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The family and foundation of Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi say the human rights activist has been denied proper treatment and has not gotten better since being transferred from prison to a hospital.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
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Over the coming two decades, baby boomers and older generations are projected to transfer around $84 trillion to younger heirs and charitable causes by 2045.—
Ed Smith-Lewis,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Verb
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But Nixon resigned, sending Gerald Ford to the Oval Office.—
Diego Lasarte,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Warsh resigned Fed in 2011 over balance sheet Both Warsh and Bessent have criticized the Fed's bloated balance sheet outside of times of crisis.—
Steve Liesman,Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Verb
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Deputies rendered medical aid; however, one man and the woman succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Perhaps Pfleger would be well advised to stick to his faith and his flock and to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, rather than to continue to pontificate from the pulpit — or even the paper.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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All the comedy was that flick of the wrist writing and the way that the lines were conveyed.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
1 May 2026
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The film spotlights Hathaway’s ability to articulate the unsaid and to convey what her character does and does not realize about herself.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cede.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cede. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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