German word

erliegen

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈliːgn̩/

Meaning

  • verbgive in to

Example

Sie erliegt der Versuchung.

She gives in to temptation.

Illustration for erliegen (give in to)

More examples

Die Gemeinde erliegt dem Einfluss der Propaganda.

The community succumbs to the influence of propaganda.

Core concept

A force such as temptation or illness brings a person down, leaving no resistance.

Common phrases

  • erliegt einer Krankheit

    succumb to a disease

  • erliegt dem Einfluss der Propaganda

    succumb to the influence of propaganda

  • erliegt dem Zeitgeist

    succumb to the spirit of the times

Similar words

nachgeben: Give in to a demand or invitation without resisting.
unterliegen: Be defeated by an opponent in a contest or struggle.
sich ergeben: Give up resistance and surrender.
sterben: Lose one's life because of illness or injury.

Definition in German

unter dem Einfluss von etwas stehen und dem nicht widerstehen können; kann auch bedeuten, an einer Krankheit zu sterben.

Word origin

German erliegen developed from older Germanic forms combining the prefix er- with liegen, originally suggesting being brought down or lying defeated.

Usage tips

  • Erliegen takes a dative object, as in "einer Versuchung erliegen" and "einer Krankheit erliegen".

Other meanings

  • dieverb
  • fall victim toverb

Opposites

Related words

  • das Erliegencessationnoun

Word lists with this word