submit
To give something to someone or to agree to follow someone else's rules.
Explanation at your level:
When you submit your homework, you give it to your teacher. It is just like giving a present. You put your paper on the teacher's desk. You are finished with your work!
You use submit when you send a document to someone important. For example, you submit an application for a school or a job. It means you are ready for them to look at your work.
In daily life, submit is often used for online forms. When you finish filling out a website form, you click the 'Submit' button. It sends your information to the company. It is a very common word in our digital world.
Beyond just paperwork, submit can mean to stop fighting. If you submit to someone's will, you agree to do what they want, even if you don't want to. It shows you are respecting their power or authority in a situation.
In academic and professional circles, submit implies a formal process of peer review or evaluation. You might submit a manuscript for publication or submit a proposal for a grant. It carries a sense of professional vulnerability, as you are presenting your ideas to be judged by experts.
At the highest level, submit touches on philosophical and historical themes of sovereignty and compliance. We speak of submitting to the laws of nature or submitting to the verdict of history. The word bridges the gap between simple administrative tasks and the profound human experience of relinquishing control to a higher power or an unavoidable reality.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means to hand in work.
- Means to yield to power.
- Formal tone.
- Common in business.
When you submit something, you are essentially handing it over to someone who has the power to look at it or decide what happens next. Think of it as a bridge between your hard work and the person who needs to grade or approve it. Whether it is an essay, a job application, or a project proposal, you are submitting it for their professional judgment.
On the other hand, the word also carries a weightier meaning: yielding. If you submit to someone, you are stopping your own resistance and accepting their authority. This can happen in a debate where you finally agree with your opponent, or in a more serious context where one party accepts the rules set by another. It is a word that balances both professional productivity and personal surrender.
The word submit comes from the Latin verb submittere, which is a combination of sub (meaning 'under') and mittere (meaning 'to send'). Literally, it meant 'to send under' or 'to place below'.
Historically, this imagery makes perfect sense. By 'sending' yourself or your work 'under' the gaze or authority of another, you were showing humility or respect. Over the centuries, the word moved from the physical act of bowing or placing something down to the abstract concepts of handing in paperwork or accepting a legal judgment. It is a fascinating example of how a physical action in ancient Rome became a standard office term in the modern world.
In a professional setting, you will frequently hear phrases like submit a report or submit an application. It is a standard, formal verb that is preferred over 'give in' or 'hand over' when you want to sound professional and respectful of the process.
When talking about authority, we often use it with prepositions like submit to. For example, 'They refused to submit to the new rules.' This usage is more serious and carries a tone of conflict or negotiation. Always consider the context: if you are talking about work, it is neutral and expected; if you are talking about power dynamics, it is much more intense.
While 'submit' itself is a verb, it appears in many contexts.
- Submit to the inevitable: Accepting that something cannot be changed.
- Submit for approval: A standard business phrase for seeking permission.
- Submit a bid: Offering a price for a contract.
- Submit to pressure: Giving in when things get difficult.
- Submit your resignation: A formal way to quit a job.
The verb submit is regular, meaning its past tense is submitted. Notice the double 't'—that happens because the stress is on the second syllable. The IPA for British English is /səbˈmɪt/ and for American English is /səbˈmɪt/.
It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually needs an object, like 'I submitted my essay.' When used in the sense of yielding, it is followed by the preposition 'to', as in 'submit to authority.' It rhymes with words like admit, permit, and commit, all of which share that Latin mittere root.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'mission'.
Pronunciation Guide
Stress on the second syllable.
Clear 't' sounds.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'b' too loudly
- Putting stress on the first syllable
- Dropping the final 't'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Transitive verbs
I submit it.
Examples by Level
Please submit your paper.
Please give your work.
Imperative form
I submit my work.
I hand in my work.
Present tense
Did you submit it?
Did you send it?
Past question
Submit the form here.
Give the form here.
Directional
He submits his report.
He hands in his report.
Third person
We submit our homework.
We hand in homework.
Plural subject
Submit it by noon.
Give it by 12:00.
Time phrase
I will submit it.
I am going to send it.
Future tense
Please submit your application online.
I have to submit my project today.
Did you submit the request?
They submit their taxes annually.
She submitted her essay early.
The students submit their work on time.
Don't forget to submit the form.
We submit our ideas to the boss.
You must submit your entry by Friday.
The committee will review the documents you submitted.
He refused to submit to their unfair demands.
Please click the button to submit your details.
They submitted a proposal for the new park.
I submitted my resignation yesterday.
She had to submit to a medical exam.
The team submitted their findings to the board.
The author submitted her manuscript to the publisher.
He finally submitted to the pressure of the media.
They were forced to submit to the new regulations.
I am submitting this for your consideration.
The players had to submit to a drug test.
She submitted a claim for the insurance money.
He submitted himself to the authority of the court.
We submitted our bid for the construction project.
The researchers submitted their data for peer review.
He submitted to the inevitable conclusion of the trial.
The country was forced to submit to the treaty terms.
She submitted her thesis to the department head.
They submitted a formal complaint to the management.
The artist submitted his work to the gallery curator.
He submitted to the discipline of the training program.
We must submit this report to the oversight committee.
The defendant submitted to the jurisdiction of the court.
She submitted her spirit to the rigors of the journey.
He submitted to the dictates of his own conscience.
They submitted their grievances to the council.
The empire was forced to submit to the stronger power.
He submitted his work for critical appraisal.
She submitted herself to the process of healing.
The proposal was submitted for final ratification.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"submit to the inevitable"
Accepting that something cannot be avoided
He finally submitted to the inevitable and retired.
formal"submit for approval"
Sending something to be checked
I have submitted the design for approval.
business"submit your notice"
Formally quitting a job
She submitted her notice yesterday.
business"submit to the process"
Going through a required procedure
You just have to submit to the process.
neutral"submit to fate"
Accepting one's destiny
He submitted to fate and stopped fighting.
literaryEasily Confused
Similar ending
Admit is to confess
I admit I was wrong.
Similar sound
Permit is to allow
He permitted it.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + submit + object
I submitted the form.
Subject + submit + to + noun
They submitted to the rules.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Submit is transitive; it needs an object.
Submit is to hand in; admit is to confess.
When yielding, you need 'to'.
One 't' at the end of the root.
Submit is formal; don't use it for a pen.
Tips
Work Context
Use it when sending work to a boss.
Double T
Remember the double T in submitted.
Latin Roots
It comes from 'mittere'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Sub (under) + mit (send) = Send it under the desk to the boss.
Visual Association
A student sliding a test paper under a teacher's door.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to say 'I submit my work' five times fast.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: To place under
Cultural Context
Can imply lack of power; use carefully.
Very common in office and academic culture.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
School
- submit an essay
- submit an assignment
Work
- submit a report
- submit a bid
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever had to submit a late assignment?"
"What is the hardest thing to submit to?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you had to submit to a rule you didn't like.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, it is more formal than 'give'.
No, that sounds strange.
Submission.
Resist or defy.
Only in 'submit resignation'.
No, it's neutral in business.
Submitted.
Yes, in the sense of yielding.
Test Yourself
Please ___ your homework to the teacher.
Submit means to hand in.
What does 'submit' mean here?
In this context, it means to yield.
Is 'submit' a formal word?
Yes, it is used in professional settings.
Word
Meaning
Matching synonyms and antonyms.
Subject + verb + object.
Score: /5
Summary
Submit means to formally hand in work or to yield to authority.
- Means to hand in work.
- Means to yield to power.
- Formal tone.
- Common in business.
Work Context
Use it when sending work to a boss.
Double T
Remember the double T in submitted.
Latin Roots
It comes from 'mittere'.
Example
You need to submit your application form before the end of the month.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More Work words
objective
A2To be neutral and not influenced by personal feelings or opinions. It involves looking at facts and evidence rather than emotions when making a judgment.
constraint
A2A constraint is a rule or condition that limits what you can do or how something can be done. It is often used to describe factors like time, money, or regulations that restrict a person's freedom or a project's progress.
patrol
A1A patrol is a person or group that goes around an area to make sure it is safe. It can also mean the act of moving through an area to watch for problems or danger.
administrator
C1A person responsible for carrying out the administration of a business or organization, focusing on management, organization, and the implementation of policies. In academic or government settings, it refers to an official who manages operations rather than performing the primary technical or teaching work.
survey
B2A research method used for collecting data from a predefined group of respondents to gain information and insights into various topics of interest. It typically involves a standardized set of questions aimed at gathering statistical data or public opinions.
peritriber
C1To systematically examine, traverse, or probe the boundaries of a specific domain, organization, or social group. It often implies a methodical approach to identifying limits, weaknesses, or entry points without necessarily entering the core.
improve
A2To make something better or to become better in quality, value, or condition. It is used to describe progress in skills, health, or the state of an object.
cosuperal
C1A person who shares the same level of supervisory authority or oversight as another within an organization or project. It refers to a peer in a high-ranking position who must collaborate on decision-making and leadership tasks.
repassor
C1A specialized machine or operative in the textile industry that passes fibers through a combing or drawing process for a second time. This refining step ensures that the fibers are perfectly aligned and uniform before being spun into high-quality yarn.
schedule
B2A plan that lists events, tasks, or appointments along with the specific times they are intended to happen. It serves as a structural guide to help individuals or organizations manage their time and resources effectively.
