German word

nachgeben

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈnaːxˌgeːbən/

Meaning

  • verbgive in

Example

Er gab schließlich nach und stimmte zu.

He finally gave in and agreed.

Illustration for nachgeben (give in)

More examples

Am Ende gab das Team dem Druck nach.

In the end, the team gave in to the pressure.

Core concept

A person under pressure loosens their grip and lets the other side move ahead.

Common phrases

  • dem Druck nachgeben

    give in to pressure

  • einem Vorschlag nachgeben

    yield to a proposal

  • in Diskussionen nachgeben

    give way in discussions

Similar words

einlenken: Soften a position and accept the other side's case after persuasion.
einräumen: Acknowledge that another person's claim or a fact is valid.
zugestehen: Concede some right or benefit in response to a demand.
zugeben: Openly admit a mistake or that the other side is right.

Definition in German

nachgeben bedeutet, einer Forderung oder einem Druck nicht mehr standzuhalten und dem anderen entgegenzukommen.

Word origin

The separable verb combines nach, meaning 'back' or 'behind', with geben, 'to give', and developed from yielding ground to yielding in an argument.

Usage tips

  • In the present tense, the prefix separates, as in 'er gibt nach', while the infinitive remains 'nachgeben'.

Other meanings

  • yieldverb
  • submitverb

Opposites

Related words

  • nachgiebigyieldingadjective
  • Nachgiebigkeityieldingnessnoun
  • Nachgabeconcessionnoun

Word lists with this word