yield 1 of 2

verb

ˈyēld How to pronounce yield (audio)
Definition of yieldnext
1
as in to succumb
to give up and cease resistance (as to a liking, temptation, or habit) I finally yielded to temptation and had a bowl of ice cream

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2
as in to give
to produce as revenue I expect that stock to yield at least 14% profit this year

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3
as in to submit
to cease resistance (as to another's arguments, demands, or control) after initially balking at the order, the soldier yielded when the commanding officer threatened a formal charge of insubordination

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4
as in to cause
to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) the sort of embarrassing question that seldom yields an honest answer

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5
as in to collapse
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure the door soon yielded to the battering ram

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6
as in to relinquish
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress refusing to yield the city to enemy troops

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7
as in to surrender
to give (oneself) over to something especially unrestrainedly she yielded herself to temptation and booked a month-long vacation in the Bahamas like she'd wanted to for years

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yield

2 of 2

noun

1
as in revenue
an increase usually measured in money that comes from labor, business, or property the stock's yield has increased over the years

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2
as in production
something produced by physical or intellectual effort wheat farmers were able to increase the yield per acre substantially

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3
as in bounty
the total amount collected or obtained especially at one time the yield from the police department's buyback program for firearms was staggering

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb yield differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of yield are capitulate, defer, relent, submit, and succumb. While all these words mean "to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist," yield may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty.

yields too easily in any argument

When could capitulate be used to replace yield?

The words capitulate and yield are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, capitulate stresses the fact of ending all resistance and may imply either a coming to terms (as with an adversary) or hopelessness in the face of an irresistible opposing force.

officials capitulated to the protesters' demands

When is it sensible to use defer instead of yield?

The synonyms defer and yield are sometimes interchangeable, but defer implies a voluntary yielding or submitting out of respect or reverence for or deference and affection toward another.

I defer to your expertise in these matters

In what contexts can relent take the place of yield?

Although the words relent and yield have much in common, relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand.

finally relented and let the children stay up late

When might submit be a better fit than yield?

In some situations, the words submit and yield are roughly equivalent. However, submit suggests full surrendering after resistance or conflict to the will or control of another.

a repentant sinner vowing to submit to the will of God

When would succumb be a good substitute for yield?

While the synonyms succumb and yield are close in meaning, succumb implies weakness and helplessness to the one that gives way or an overwhelming power to the opposing force.

a stage actor succumbing to the lure of Hollywood

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of yield
Verb
The strikes came ahead of a second round of peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, which failed to yield concrete progress toward a deal but did produce a new agreement on prisoner swaps. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025 However, beyond the swap, the discussions yielded little progress. —Scott Neuman, NPR, 2 June 2025
Noun
That includes small businesses, that includes loans to small businesses, includes high yield debt, includes leveraged lending, includes real estate loans. —Joseph Zeballos-Roig, Quartz, 2 June 2025 Maryland coal:Once a symbol of our state’s industrial might, its yield reaching far beyond our borders and even across the Atlantic. —Daniel A.c. McBride, Baltimore Sun, 1 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for yield
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yield
  1. succumb
  2. give
  3. submit
  4. cause
  5. collapse
  6. relinquish
  7. surrender
  8. revenue
Verb
  • Sadly, Verstappen is not the only multiple-time world champion to succumb to such behavior.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 June 2025
  • At the former, Zosia quietly sits with Kiko, who has just succumbed to his gunshot wound.
    — Matt Cabral, EW.com, 1 June 2025
Definition of succumb
Verb
  • Some shook their legs nervously, others gave death glares to folks with the misfortune of sitting on creaky chairs.
    — Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 8 June 2025
  • Adding Ángeles Cruz also seemed natural to give Sira a voice.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 8 June 2025
Definition of give
Verb
  • Applications will be reviewed in the order they are submitted.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2025
  • This year’s winners were selected from over 11,750 films submitted by more than 7,500 filmmakers across 158 countries and territories.
    — Leia Mendoza, Variety, 6 June 2025
Definition of submit
Verb
  • The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2025
  • Exercise May Be Equivalent to Some Chemo Drugs in Benefit Marshall says the benefits from exercise were equal to or perhaps even greater than those achieved with chemotherapy drugs like oxaliplatin, which can be expensive and cause severe side effects.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of cause
Verb
  • That’s very much the case with Two Harbors, whose shares traded in the $60s before collapsing during COVID, only mildly rebounded, then deteriorated ever since to current prices around $10 per share.
    — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • The signs have been there for about six months — ever since a 180-foot section of the wooden pier collapsed into the ocean after being battered by towering waves during an atmospheric river storm that wreaked havoc along the Central Coast.
    — Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • In addition there are concerns about relinquishing control of monetary policy as countries in the euro zone are subject to decisions by the ECB, Tursa added.
    — Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 10 June 2025
  • The nonprofit Consumer Watchdog argued that the bill would relinquish state control of California’s famously ambitious clean energy policies.
    — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
Definition of relinquish
Verb
  • The stock surrendered 45% of its market capitalization to close the month at $1.56 a share, making for a company value of $338 million.
    — Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 2 June 2025
  • The measure has proven durable because its benefits were tangible, and voters seldom surrender benefits.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 2 June 2025
Definition of surrender
Noun
  • Analysts called it a solid performance but said investors may have been looking for some bigger revenue forecasts for the upcoming year.
    — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
  • The odds of landing an impact player that far down the board are slim, especially with NIL and revenue sharing now incentivizing players outside of the elite tier of prospects to stay in school.
    — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 13 June 2025
Definition of revenue

Browse Nearby Words

yet
yield
yielded
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Cite this Entry

“Yield.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yield. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on yield

Nglish: Translation of yield for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about yield

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