English vocabulary · B2
Succumb
/səˈkʌm/ · v.
It means to stop fighting and give in to something that was too strong for you.
Watch the Succumb lessonContinue in the learning app for video lessons and review.
Example sentences
- He tried to stay healthy but succumbed to junk food every night.
- She succumbed to the pressure and quit her job.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- sub — under (from Latin)
- cumb — lie down (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- YIELD (giving way under steady pressure)
- SURRENDER (formally accepting defeat)
- CAVE (resistance collapses suddenly)
Words with the same root
cumb — lie down
- incumbent — a person currently holding a position
- encumber — to weigh down or make harder
Lesson notes
Succumb. It means to stop fighting and give in to something that was too strong for you.
Similar words are yield, surrender, and cave. Use succumb when you finally stop resisting something powerful.
He tried to stay healthy but succumbed to junk food every night. She succumbed to the pressure and quit her job.
From Latin. Sub means under. Cumb means lie down. You lie down under something too heavy to fight — that is to succumb.