conquer

conquer — verb

1. to seize control of a territory or population through military strength; also, t

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to seize control of a territory or population through military strength; also, to defeat a rival decisively in a sport, game, or contest

Example

Mayumi's army conquered the coastal province after a long siege.

The old fortress was conquered by Ife's forces before sunrise.

passive: be conquered by [agent]

Common collocations
  • conquer a country
  • conquer a city
  • conquer an army
  • conquer territory
  • conquer a rival
  • conquer a championship
Synonyms
  • defeat

    more general; can be used for any win in war, sports, or voting

  • vanquish

    literary and dramatic; suggests complete destruction of the opponent

  • subdue

    focuses on bringing under control rather than taking possession

  • overpower

    emphasizes physical or numerical strength rather than strategy

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

conquer + noun phrase (country / city / army)

be conquered by + noun phrase

conquer + noun phrase (opponent / rival / title)

Usage Note

Frequently used in historical and military narratives. In the military sense, this verb can appear without an object in fixed expressions such as 'they came, they saw, they conquered.' In sports contexts, it implies a clear and important victory rather than a routine win.

Common Mistakes

The team conquered the match 2–0.
The team won the match 2
0.' — 'conquer' is too strong for everyday results; reserve it for decisive, high-stakes victories.
She conquered the puzzle in five minutes.
She solved the puzzle in five minutes.
'conquer' suggests a significant challenge, not a minor task.

2. to successfully stop or gain control over a difficulty, bad habit, illness, or f

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to successfully stop or gain control over a difficulty, bad habit, illness, or fear that has been troubling you

Example

Kabir finally conquered his fear of flying after taking lessons.

collocation: conquer a fear

Wren is determined to conquer her habit of checking her phone at night.

collocation: conquer a habit

Common collocations
  • conquer a fear
  • conquer an addiction
  • conquer shyness
  • conquer a disease
  • conquer a bad habit
  • conquer an obstacle
Synonyms
  • overcome

    very close in meaning, slightly less forceful; works in the same contexts

  • surmount

    more formal; focuses on rising above an obstacle

  • master

    suggests gaining skill or control through practice

  • beat

    informal; common in everyday speech ('beat an addiction')

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

conquer + noun phrase (fear / habit / problem / disease)

Usage Note

The object is typically a persistent personal struggle — fear, addiction, shyness, a bad habit, or a serious illness. Not used for minor everyday inconveniences (e.g., a headache, a small chore). 'Overcome' is a near-synonym that often sounds slightly less forceful.

Common Mistakes

She conquered her cold in two days.
She got over her cold in two days.
'conquer' is too dramatic for a minor illness; reserve it for serious health challenges.

3. to win the admiration and enthusiasm of people in a particular place or field, b

3.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to win the admiration and enthusiasm of people in a particular place or field, becoming widely liked or followed

Example

Liam's debut album conquered audiences across South America.

collocation: conquer an audience

Inês's food truck conquered the city with its spicy noodle bowls.

Common collocations
  • conquer an audience
  • conquer the market
  • conquer the stage
  • conquer the art world
  • conquer a continent
Synonyms
  • captivate

    focuses on charm and attraction rather than reach

  • win over

    suggests gradually earning people's approval

  • take by storm

    idiomatic; implies rapid, dramatic success

Antonyms
  • repel

    to drive away rather than attract

  • fail in

    opposite outcome — not achieving popularity

Grammar Patterns

conquer + noun phrase (audience / market / city / world)

Usage Note

Often used in entertainment, food, fashion, and technology contexts. The subject is typically a performer, product, business, or creative work. Unlike sense 1, there is no implication of force — the popularity is earned through appeal or talent.

Common Mistakes

The new café conquered three customers on its first day.
The new café attracted three customers on its first day.
'conquer' implies broad popularity across a whole place or community, not individual sales.

Word family

  • conqueror
    nounB2
  • conquest
    nounB2
  • unconquered
    adjectiveC1
  • conquerable
    adjectiveC2
  • reconquer
    verbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Defeat' is the most general of these words and can be used in almost any competitive context — sports, war, elections, or games. 'Conquer' goes further: it implies not just defeating the opponent but taking control or possession of what they held. A general defeats an army; a conqueror defeats an army AND takes control of the land. 'Vanquish' is more literary and dramatic, suggesting total destruction or annihilation of the opponent; it appears frequently in epic fiction but less often in everyday speech. 'Overcome' differs from the other three in that it focuses on surmounting an obstacle rather than defeating an adversary — you overcome a difficulty, not a person. For example: 'Brazil defeated Japan in the quarter-finals' (result only); 'The Romans conquered Gaul over several campaigns' (result + control); 'In the legend, the hero vanquished the dragon' (dramatic, complete); 'She overcame her nerves before the audition' (personal struggle, not competition).

conquer ↗defeat ↗vanquishovercome ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • conquer the world
  • come, see, and conquer

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

From Latin 'conquirere' (to search for, obtain, win), which is formed from 'com-' (altogether, thoroughly) and 'quaerere' (to seek, ask). The verb passed into English through Old French 'conquerre' after the Norman Conquest. The original Latin meaning ('to obtain by searching') gradually narrowed to 'to acquire by military force' in medieval usage, and later broadened in modern English to include non-military struggles and popularity.