conquest
KONGK-wehst
Conquest (noun) means the act of defeating an opponent and gaining control of their territory. Example: “Historians still argue about how the conquest of the island was organised.”
noun
1
The act of defeating an opponent and gaining control of their territory.
"Historians still argue about how the conquest of the island was organised."
"After the conquest, the invaders built a fortress to hold the captured land."
"The Norman conquest of England began in 1066."
2
Something gained or won through effort, struggle, or force.
"Reaching the summit was his greatest conquest after years of hard training."
"For the young chef, winning the award was a long-awaited conquest."
"The company treated the new market as a conquest to be won."
3
Informally, a person one has romantically or sexually pursued and won over.
"He liked to boast about his romantic conquests."
How to use conquest
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA victory that gains territory or control, or more casually, a romantic "win."
Common pairings
military conquest
conquest of
romantic conquest
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Word forms
- Plural
- conquests
- Third person singular
- conquests
- Past tense
- conquested
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Historians still argue about how the _____ of the island was organised.
Etymology
From Old French "conqueste," ultimately from Latin "conquirere," meaning "to search out or gain," built from "con-" and "quaerere," "to seek."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for conquest
See all rhymes for conquest →Frequently asked questions
What does “conquest” mean?
The word “conquest” means the act of defeating an opponent and gaining control of their territory. In plain terms, a victory that gains territory or control, or more casually, a romantic "win.".
How do you pronounce “conquest”?
“Conquest” is pronounced KONGK-wehst (/ˈkɑnkwɛst/ in IPA).
How do you use “conquest” in a sentence?
Here is “conquest” used in a sentence: “The Norman conquest of England began in 1066.”
What part of speech is “conquest”?
“Conquest” is a noun.
Where does the word “conquest” come from?
The word “conquest” comes from Latin. From Old French "conqueste," ultimately from Latin "conquirere," meaning "to search out or gain," built from "con-" and "quaerere," "to seek.".
Is “conquest” a common word?
“Conquest” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “conquest” have?
“Conquest” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of defeating an opponent and gaining control of their territory.
What is the difference between conquest and conquer?
Conquer is the verb for the act of defeating and taking control of a place, people, or army by force, while conquest is the noun referring to that act itself or to the thing gained through it. A conquest is the result of having conquered something.
