Cool MateAdmit vs Concede
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Admit
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Concede
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most common: Admit
| Admit | Concede | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ədˈmɪt/","/ədˈmɪts/","/ədˈmɪtɪd/","/ədˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ədˈmɪt/","/ədˈmɪts/","/ədˈmɪtɪd/","/ədˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈsiːd/","/kənˈsiːdz/","/kənˈsiːdɪd/","/kənˈsiːdɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈsiːd/","/kənˈsiːdz/","/kənˈsiːdɪd/","/kənˈsiːdɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To say that something is true, especially something you want to keep secret. | To admit that something is true or that you have lost. |
| Example | She had to admit that she was wrong about the decision. | After a long debate, he had to concede that his opponent made some valid points. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | freely, readily, frankly, be forced to, have to, must, to, I don’t mind admitting, freely, readily, frankly, be forced to, have to, must, to, I don’t mind admitting | eventually, finally, readily, be forced to, be prepared to, be willing to, to, eventually, finally, readily, be forced to, be prepared to, be willing to, to, eventually, finally, readily, be forced to, be prepared to, be willing to, to |
| Antonyms | deny, refuse | deny, dispute, refuse |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'admit' vs 'accept' - they have different meanings., Using 'admit' without an object, e.g., saying 'I admit' without specifying what., Incorrectly using 'admit to' with a noun, instead of 'admit' with a clause. | Confused with 'succeed' — they have opposite meanings., Using 'concede' without an object — it's usually followed by what is being admitted., Mistaking it for 'agree' — conceding often implies a reluctant admission. |
| Usage notes | Use in contexts where someone is confessing or acknowledging something. It's suitable in both personal and formal scenarios. Avoid in very casual conversations where simpler words might suffice. | Used in discussions, debates, or competitions to acknowledge an opposing argument or result. It may not be appropriate in casual conversations where a more informal tone is expected. |
Frequently asked questions: Admit vs Concede
What's the difference between Admit and Concede?
Admit: To say that something is true, especially something you want to keep secret. Concede: To admit that something is true or that you have lost.
Which is more common: Admit and Concede?
Admit is the most common in everyday English.
Are Admit and Concede the same CEFR level?
Admit: B1, Concede: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Admit and Concede interchangeably?
Not always. Admit and Concede are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.