succumb
Succumb (verb) means to give in to something overpowering, such as pressure, temptation, or illness. Example: “He finally succumbed to temptation and ate the whole cake.”
How to use succumb
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stop resisting and give in — to pressure, temptation, illness, or in the most serious case, to die.
Often used in formal or news writing, especially as a somewhat gentler way of saying someone died.
Word forms
succumbed past tense, succame past tense, succumbs singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He finally _____ to temptation and ate the whole cake.
Etymology
From Old French succomber, from Latin succumbere, from sub- ("under") plus cumbere ("to lie down").
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “succumb” mean?
The word “succumb” means to give in to something overpowering, such as pressure, temptation, or illness. In plain terms, to stop resisting and give in — to pressure, temptation, illness, or in the most serious case, to die.
How do you pronounce “succumb”?
“Succumb” is pronounced suh-KUHM (/səˈkʌm/ in IPA).
How do you use “succumb” in a sentence?
Here is “succumb” used in a sentence: “He finally succumbed to temptation and ate the whole cake.”
What part of speech is “succumb”?
“Succumb” is a verb.
Where does the word “succumb” come from?
The word “succumb” comes from Latin. From Old French succomber, from Latin succumbere, from sub- ("under") plus cumbere ("to lie down").
How many meanings does “succumb” have?
“Succumb” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to give in to something overpowering, such as pressure, temptation, or illness.
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