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
While our two rounds of scrimmaging yielded a whopping score of 0-0, the game itself felt accessible yet challenging, combining elements of shuffleboard, chess, skating and, yes, physics. —Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026 That includes a high-90s fastball and three pitches (a changeup, sweeper and slider) that yielded whiff rates over 33% last season. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
Most gardeners don’t prune grape vines enough, which reduces the yield. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2026 Together, these systems are intended to help farmers reduce dependence on manual labor and chemical herbicides while maintaining or improving crop yields. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 3 Feb. 2026 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
  • Her elder two sisters died at 10 and 11; her sister Anne at 29; her ne’er-do-well brother Branwell at 31; and Charlotte at the ripe age of 38—all succumbing to tuberculosis.
    — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Inside, rather than succumbing to the pull of an open floor plan, Rai leaned into the home’s distinct zones and cozy nooks, which are evocative of another era.
    — Linne Halpern, Architectural Digest, 12 Feb. 2026
Definition of succumb
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Ishii said the council is focused on filling the five Police Accountability Board vacancies and finding Aguilar’s replacement, finalizing the board’s regulations, giving both oversight entities the necessary tools to succeed and restoring belief in the oversight process.
    — Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
  • McVay said the team would give the players time to digest the season and decide what might be next.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of give
Verb
  • Many more have submitted their accounts in civil rights lawsuits aimed at slowing the operations.
    — Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
  • They were selected after submitting their White Castle stories.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of submit
Verb
  • The crash was reported shortly after noon and was caused by a 92-year-old woman driving a Toyota Prius, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The explosion, which ripped through the mosque during Friday prayers, was caused by a suicide bomber, police told CNN.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of cause
Verb
  • Abstract governance debates collapse when basic participation and revenue data are examined.
    — Michael Fealey, Sportico.com, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Or that there is a wild proliferation of parallel universes, or that a mysterious process causes quantumness to spontaneously collapse.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • His father refused to relinquish his grudge, as Dreher saw it, and his mother always went along with her husband.
    — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Notable sellers include Bruce Springsteen, who in 2021 made a deal with Sony Music Entertainment to relinquish his master recordings and songs for $500 million.
    — Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of relinquish
Verb
  • Concerned about the safety of two children in the home, Aljorna and Sosa-Celis surrendered.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Arizona recently surrendered about a third of its allotted supply of the river through both mandatory and compensated voluntary cuts to keep Lake Mead from going dry.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of surrender
Noun
  • Kering’s largest brand, Gucci, dragged on revenues.
    — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026
  • To be sure, some investors are betting that the enormous build out will eventually translate into revenue and profits.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
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 Feb. 2026.

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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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