Pronunciation: /səbˈdu/

Definitions of subdue

verb to bring under control or overcome by force; conquer

Example Sentences

A1 The police officer had to subdue the suspect before making an arrest.

A2 She tried to subdue her fear of heights by taking deep breaths.

B1 The manager had to subdue the angry customer to prevent a scene in the store.

B2 The boxer managed to subdue his opponent in the final round.

C1 The powerful medication was able to subdue the patient's severe pain.

C2 The dictator used brutal force to subdue any opposition to his rule.

adjective having a subdued or restrained quality

Example Sentences

A1 The police officer subdues the criminal with handcuffs.

A2 The teacher tried to subdue the noisy students in the classroom.

B1 The manager used a calm tone to subdue the angry customer.

B2 The firefighter worked quickly to subdue the flames before they spread.

C1 The negotiator was able to subdue the tense situation and reach a peaceful resolution.

C2 The martial arts expert was able to subdue his opponent with ease.

Examples of subdue in a Sentence

formal The police were able to subdue the suspect without causing any harm.

informal The security guard had to subdue the rowdy customer in the store.

slang I saw a video of a guy trying to subdue a wild animal in the park.

figurative She had to subdue her emotions in order to make a rational decision.

Grammatical Forms of subdue

past tense

subdued

plural

subdues

comparative

more subdued

superlative

most subdued

present tense

subdue

future tense

will subdue

perfect tense

have subdued

continuous tense

is subduing

singular

subdues

positive degree

subdue

infinitive

to subdue

gerund

subduing

participle

subdued

Origin and Evolution of subdue

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'subdue' originated from the Latin word 'subducere', which means to withdraw or lead away.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'subdue' has evolved to also mean to bring under control or to conquer, reflecting a shift from physical to more metaphorical forms of domination.