yield

1 of 2

verb

ˈyēld 

yielded; yielding; yields

transitive verb

1

a

: to bear or bring forth as a natural product especially as a result of cultivation

the tree always yields good fruit

b

: to produce or furnish as return

this soil should yield good crops

c(1)

: to produce as return from an expenditure or investment : furnish as profit or interest

a bond that yields 12 percent

(2)

: to produce as revenue : bring in

the tax is expected to yield millions

2

: to give up possession of on claim or demand: such as

a

: to surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another : hand over possession of

b

: to give (oneself) up to an inclination, temptation, or habit

c

: to relinquish one's possession of (something, such as a position of advantage or point of superiority)

yield precedence

d

: to surrender or submit (oneself) to another

e

: to give up (one's breath, life, or spirit) and so die

3

: to give or render as fitting, rightfully owed, or required

4

: to give up (a hit or run) in baseball

yielded two runs in the third inning

5

archaic : recompense, reward

intransitive verb

1

: to give way to pressure or influence : submit to urging, persuasion, or entreaty

2

: to give up and cease resistance or contention : submit, succumb

facing an enemy who would not yield

yielding to temptation

3

: to relinquish the floor of a legislative assembly

4

: to give way under physical force (such as bending, stretching, or breaking)

5

a

: to give place or precedence : acknowledge the superiority of someone else

b

: to be inferior

our dictionary yields to none

c

: to give way to or become succeeded by someone or something else

6

: to be fruitful or productive : bear, produce

yield

2 of 2

noun

1

: something yielded : product

especially : the amount or quantity produced or returned

yield of wheat per acre

2

: the capacity of yielding produce

Synonyms

Verb

• bow
• cave (in)
• give in
• submit
• succumb
• surrender

Noun

• earnings
• gain(s)
• income
• incoming(s)
• proceeds
• profit
• return
• revenue

Choose the Right Synonym for yield

yield, submit, capitulate, succumb, relent, defer 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

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

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

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

relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand.

finally relented and let the children stay up late

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

synonyms see in addition relinquish

Examples of yield in a Sentence

Verb

The apple trees yielded an abundant harvest.

This soil should yield good crops.

The seeds yield a rich oil.

New methods have yielded promising results in the field.

The studies yielded clear evidence.

The tax is expected to yield millions.

The bond yields seven percent annually.

After several hours of debate, the opposition yielded.

I yield the floor to the Senator from Maine.

I yield to the Senator.

Noun

Our yield of wheat increased this year.

The average yield per tree is about one bushel.

The yield on government bonds is currently seven percent.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Share [Findings] Drivers of fancy cars yield to pedestrians less often than drivers of humble cars, and still less if the pedestrians are non-white men. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024

The sessions yielded various recommendations, including wanting city hall to stay downtown and to include an affordable housing component. —Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2024

Then, in 2006, elections yielded a victory for Hamas over Fatah. —Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2024

Pearl Jam was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2017, recognition of a mighty, three-decade-plus career that has yielded 12 top 10s on the Billboard 200 chart, including five leaders, and over 85 million albums shifted worldwide, according to reps. —Lars Brandle, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024

The past decade has yielded victory after victory for defenders of America’s historic tradition of embracing religion in public life and safeguarding religious freedom for citizens of all faiths and shades of belief. —Robert P. George, National Review, 18 Apr. 2024

Fowler thinks scientists could fix all that, breeding new varieties of the grass pea that yield more, without the toxin. —Dan Charles, NPR, 18 Apr. 2024

Just then, the driver yielded for a barking dog that was blocking the car. —Anemona Hartocollis, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2024

Over time, continued transmission among cattle is likely to yield mutations that will further increase the efficiency of mammal-to-mammal transmission. —Luciana Borio and Phil Krause, STAT, 12 Apr. 2024

Noun

His costs are down while his farm yield is the same. —Aniruddha Ghosal, Fortune Asia, 23 Apr. 2024

Studies show that a strong foundation of primary care yields better outcomes and equity, serving as the bedrock for addressing social drivers of health and managing complex patient care. —Ezekiel J. Emanuel and Matthew Guido, STAT, 22 Apr. 2024

Stocks have been struggling recently as yields in the bond market charge higher. —Zimo Zhong, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024

And the 10-year treasury yield, a gauge for mortgage rates and other loans, is hovering around 4.6%. —Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024

Read Next Missouri 20-minute fight with fish yields world record in Missouri. —Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2024

Stocks dropped sharply after the March CPI was released Wednesday as bond yields spiked to the highest level since November. —Bryan Mena, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024

The agency now focuses on diversification, a stable cash yield and inflation protection, the statement said. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024

Nitrogen is critical to growing potatoes and getting high yields. —Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English gieldan; akin to Old High German geltan to pay

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 5

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing yield

• sustained yield

Kids Definition

yield

1 of 2 verb

ˈyē(ə)ld 

1

: to give up possession of on claim or demand : surrender

2

: to give oneself up to a liking, temptation, or habit

3

a

: to bear as a natural product

trees that yield fruit

b

: to produce as a result of effort

this soil should yield good crops

c

: to return as profit or interest

4

: to bring good results

5

: to give up and stop fighting

will not yield to their enemy

6

: to give way to urging, persuasion, or pleading

7

: to give way under physical force so as to bend, stretch, or break

8

: to admit that someone else is better

yielder

ˈyēl-dər

noun

yield

2 of 2 noun

: something yielded : product

especially : the amount or quantity produced or returned

a high yield of wheat per acre

Legal Definition

yield

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈyēld 

: to produce as return from an expenditure or investment : furnish as profit or interest

an account that yields 6 percent

intransitive verb

1

: to give place or precedence (as to one having a superior right or claim)

2

: to relinquish the floor of a legislative assembly

yield to the senator from Maine

yield

2 of 2 noun

1

: agricultural production especially per acre of crop

2

: the return on a financial investment usually expressed as a percentage of cost

the bond yield was 8 percent