compromise
verb/ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/
/ˈkɑːmprəmaɪz/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they compromise | /ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/ /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪz/ |
| he / she / it compromises | /ˈkɒmprəmaɪzɪz/ /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪzɪz/ |
| past simple compromised | /ˈkɒmprəmaɪzd/ /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪzd/ |
| past participle compromised | /ˈkɒmprəmaɪzd/ /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪzd/ |
| -ing form compromising | /ˈkɒmprəmaɪzɪŋ/ /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪzɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive] to give up some of your demands in order to reach an agreement after disagreeing with somebody
- Neither side is prepared to compromise.
- compromise (with somebody) (on something) After much argument, the judges finally compromised on (= agreed to give the prize to) the 18-year old pianist.
- They were unwilling to compromise with the terrorists.
Extra ExamplesTopics Discussion and agreementc1- He wanted his own way and refused to compromise.
- They debated whether to compromise with the opposition parties.
- Unions and management seem ready to compromise on the level of the increase.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + compromise- be prepared to
- be ready to
- refuse to
- …
- on
- with
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- [transitive, intransitive] to do something that is against your principles or does not reach standards that you have set
- compromise something I refuse to compromise my principles.
- compromise (on something) We are not prepared to compromise on safety standards.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + compromise- be prepared to
- be ready to
- refuse to
- …
- on
- with
- [transitive] compromise somebody/something/yourself to cause somebody/something/yourself to be in danger or to be suspected of something, especially by acting in a way that is not very sensible
- She had already compromised herself by accepting his invitation.
- Defeat at this stage would compromise their chances (= reduce their chances) of reaching the finals of the competition.
- The affair seriously compromised the party's prospects of electoral success.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- fatally
- seriously
- severely
- …
- be prepared to
- be ready to
- refuse to
- …
- on
- [transitive] compromise something to cause something to be in danger of attack or of working less well
- Users perform tasks every day that can compromise the security of their computers.
- Do not compromise your health by following fake tips on social media.
Word Originlate Middle English (denoting mutual consent to arbitration): from Old French compromis, from late Latin compromissum ‘a consent to arbitration’, neuter past participle of compromittere, from com- ‘together’ + promittere ‘put forth, promise’, from pro- ‘forward’ + mittere ‘send’.
Check pronunciation:
compromise