Spanish word

sucumbir

Pronunciation

IPA/sukumˈbiɾ/

Meaning

  • verbgive in

Example

No quiero sucumbir a la presión.

I don't want to give in to pressure.

Illustration for sucumbir (give in)

More examples

Después de muchas horas, no pudo más y sucumbió al cansancio.

After many hours, he couldn't take it any longer and gave in to fatigue.

Core concept

Person overwhelmed and unable to resist.

Common phrases

  • sucumbir a los sentimientos

    give in to feelings

  • sucumbir al cansancio

    give in to fatigue

Similar words

ceder: Yields ground on a demand or suggestion, making concessions to reach agreement.
darse por vencido: Accepts that further effort is pointless and quits trying.
rendirse: Stops resisting an adversary or hardship and recognizes defeat.
flaquear: Shows a faltering will or strength that undermines continued effort.

Definition in Spanish

Dejar de resistir ante una fuerza, tentación o enfermedad, permitiendo que esa influencia prevalezca.

Word origin

From Latin succumbĕre (sub 'under' + cumbĕre 'to lie down'), with a core sense of being overpowered that extended to yielding to external pressure, urges, or illness.

Usage tips

  • Compared with rendirse, sucumbir usually stresses being passively overcome rather than actively surrendering.

Other meanings

  • be defeatedverb
  • dieverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word