subdue
gb/sʌbdˈu/ us/sʌbdˈu/
B2
English
~ 8700
megfékez, lefog, leigáz, lever, csillapít, elfojt, féken tart, tompít, visszafog
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
to subdue [someone/something]
It took three officers to subdue the suspect without anyone getting seriously hurt.
Három rendőr kellett ahhoz, hogy komolyabb sérülés nélkül megfékezzék a gyanúsítottat.
The guard managed to subdue the intruder until the police arrived.
Az őrnek sikerült megfékeznie a behatolót, amíg megérkezett a rendőrség.
Zookeepers quickly subdued the animal after it escaped from its enclosure.
Passengers helped the flight attendants subdue the violent man on the plane.
Security staff used pepper spray to subdue the crowd when the fight broke out.
Learner examples
The police had to subdue the man because he had a knife.
A rendőrségnek meg kellett fékeznie a férfit, mert kés volt nála.
Two workers were needed to subdue the angry dog.
Két dolgozóra volt szükség, hogy megfékezzék a dühös kutyát.
They quickly subdued the thief and called the police.
The guard subdued the drunk man and held him on the ground.
Fans tried to subdue the player who ran into the crowd.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "subdue" with "subject" or "submit" and try to say *"subdue to". "Subdue" is a direct verb and takes a direct object: you "subdue someone" or "subdue something", not *"subdue to someone".
Meaning
overpower and restrain someone
Collocations
subdue a suspect
|subdue an attacker
|subdue a prisoner
|police subdued
|forcibly subdue
|attempt to subdue
Synonyms
overpower (Focuses on winning a physical struggle or fight, often in a single strong action.)
|
restrain (Emphasizes holding or keeping someone under control, often with handcuffs or other limits, not always after a struggle.)
Antonyms
free (Means to release someone from control or restraint, the opposite of holding them down or controlling them by force.)
Themes
law
|conflict
|safety
|health
|body
Definition
To control a person or animal by using force so they cannot fight or hurt anyone.
To overpower a person or animal, usually by physical force, so they are no longer able to resist or cause harm.
VERB
C1
2
Usage pattern:
to subdue [a group/region/rebellion]
The government sent in troops to subdue the rebellion in the northern provinces.
A kormány csapatokat küldött, hogy leverjék a lázadást az északi tartományokban.
Within a few months, the empire had completely subdued the region.
Néhány hónapon belül a birodalom teljesen leigázta a térséget.
The ruler used brutal tactics to subdue the local population.
Efforts to subdue the insurgents have so far been unsuccessful.
The king failed to subdue the rival clans along the border.
Learner examples
The army tried to subdue the rebels in the city.
A hadsereg megpróbálta leverni a lázadókat a városban.
It took many years to subdue the tribes in that area.
Sok évbe telt, mire leigázták az azon a vidéken élő törzseket.
The new leader used fear to subdue his enemies.
Soldiers were sent to subdue the protest.
The empire slowly subdued all the small kingdoms around it.
Common mistake:
Learners may wrongly use "subdue" for simple persuasion or negotiation, where verbs like "convince" or "negotiate with" are more natural. "Subdue" in this sense almost always involves power or force, not friendly agreement.
Meaning
crush opposition and control it
Collocations
subdue a rebellion
|subdue the uprising
|subdue the population
|subdue the region
|subdue opposition
|subdue the enemy
Synonyms
suppress (Common in political and military contexts; stresses stopping opposition, protest, or rebellion, often harshly.)
|
quell (Emphasizes putting an end to disorder or rebellion, sometimes with a slightly formal or literary tone.)
Antonyms
encourage (In this context, to encourage opposition or resistance is the opposite of trying to defeat and control it.)
Themes
politics
|history
|conflict
|law
Definition
To use strong force, often military force, to defeat people and control a place or group.
To defeat a group, population, or region and bring it firmly under control, especially by military or political force.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
to subdue [emotion/desire/reaction]
She tried to subdue her anger before speaking to her boss.
Megpróbálta csillapítani a haragját, mielőtt beszélt a főnökével.
He could not completely subdue his excitement during the interview.
Az interjú alatt nem tudta teljesen csillapítani az izgatottságát.
The leader struggled to subdue his fear as he addressed the crowd.
I had to subdue the urge to laugh during the serious meeting.
They worked to subdue their disappointment and focus on the next game.
Learner examples
She took a deep breath to subdue her anger.
Mély levegőt vett, hogy csillapítsa a haragját.
He tried to subdue his fear of flying.
Megpróbálta csillapítani a repüléstől való félelmét.
I could not subdue my wish to see her.
They tried to subdue their sadness after the loss.
He closed his eyes to subdue his panic.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "subdue" here means the same as "hide". It is not only about hiding the feeling from others, but also about making the feeling itself weaker or more controlled.
Meaning
control or quieten emotions
Collocations
subdue her anger
|subdue his fears
|subdue my excitement
|subdue a desire
|subdue his curiosity
|subdue their panic
Synonyms
suppress (Suggests pushing emotions down so they are not shown, sometimes in an unhealthy or forced way.)
|
control (More general and neutral; focuses on managing feelings rather than reducing their strength as strongly as "subdue".)
Antonyms
indulge (Means to allow a feeling or desire to guide your actions freely, the opposite of holding it back or making it weaker.)
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|behavior
|health
Definition
To make a strong feeling or wish weaker so that you can control it.
To make an emotion, impulse, or reaction less strong and more controlled, often by conscious effort.
VERB
C1
4
Usage pattern:
to subdue [light/sound/color/activity]
They decided to subdue the lighting to create a more relaxed atmosphere.
Úgy döntöttek, hogy tompítják a világítást, hogy nyugodtabb légkört teremtsenek.
The artist chose to subdue the colors in the background.
A művész úgy döntött, hogy tompítja a háttér színeit.
Thick curtains were installed to subdue the street noise.
Adding cream will subdue the sharpness of the sauce.
Music was used to subdue the harsh sounds of the machinery.
Learner examples
We turned off one lamp to subdue the light.
Lekapcsoltunk egy lámpát, hogy tompítsuk a fényt.
Dark paint can subdue the bright color of the wall.
A sötét festék tompíthatja a fal élénk színét.
The carpet helps subdue the noise in the room.
She spoke softly to subdue the loud mood of the party.
Sugar can subdue the sour taste of the fruit.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "subdue" where simple verbs like "lower" or "reduce" are more natural in everyday conversation. "Subdue" often carries a slightly formal or descriptive tone, especially in writing about light, sound, or color.
Meaning
make something less intense
Collocations
subdue the lighting
|subdue the colors
|subdue the noise
|subdue the sound
|subdue the background
|subdue the flavors
Synonyms
soften (Often used for light, sound, or color; focuses on making something gentler or easier to experience.)
|
tone down (Informal phrasal verb; similar meaning but less formal than "subdue" and very common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
intensify (Means to make something stronger or more extreme, the opposite of reducing its strength.)
Themes
environment
|art
|everyday_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make light, sound, color, or activity softer and not so strong.
To make something such as light, sound, color, or activity less strong, bright, loud, or active.
Grammar
Dictionary form
subdue
IPA
GB/sʌbdˈu/
US/sʌbdˈu/
Syllables & stress
sub - due (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (due)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: subdue
- 3rd Person Singular: subdues
- Present Participle: subduing
- Past: subdued
Word family
Forms
subdues
verb
subduing
verb
subdued
verb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.