Conquer
/ˈkɒŋkər/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo overcome and take control of a place or people by military force.
/ˈkɒŋkər/
The army aimed to conquer the city by nightfall.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're playing a game, and your goal is to get all the points and win. Conquering is like winning the game and controlling everything. The Roman army conquered lots of lands because they were really good at fighting.
👶 For kids: To win a fight and take control of a place or people.
More Examples
The explorer sought to conquer new lands.
Genghis Khan conquered a vast empire.
How It's Used
"The Roman Empire conquered vast territories across Europe."
"William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066."
To overcome and gain control over something difficult or unwanted.
/ˈkɒŋkər/
He had to conquer his addiction to smoking.
💡 Simply: Think of a challenge, like feeling scared to try something new. If you face your fear and do it anyway, you conquer it! For example, if you were scared of the dark and got over it, you've conquered your fear.
👶 For kids: To beat something hard or scary.
More Examples
She aimed to conquer the challenges of starting a new business.
The athlete worked hard to conquer his personal best.
How It's Used
"She had to conquer her fear of public speaking."
"He conquered the mountain peak after weeks of climbing."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
divide and conquer
A strategy used to gain and maintain power by breaking up larger concentrations of power into smaller, more manageable units, which are then controlled individually.
"The general used a divide-and-conquer strategy to weaken the enemy's defenses."
Conquer one's fears
To successfully overcome feelings of fear and anxiety.
"She knew she had to conquer her fears of public speaking before accepting the promotion."
From Old French conquere, conquerre ('to acquire, gain, subdue'), from Vulgar Latin *conquaerere, from Latin con- ('completely') + quaerere ('to seek, gain').
The word has been used for centuries in military and metaphorical contexts, with its meaning remaining relatively consistent.
Memory tip
Think of a king with a crown, that's a conqueror!
Word Origin
"to seek, gain"