Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To submit to an overpowering force or yield to an overwhelming desire; give up or give in. synonym: yield.
  • intransitive verb To die, especially from a disease or injury.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To sink or give way under pressure or superior force; be defeated; yield; submit; hence, to die.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To yield; to submit; to give up unresistingly

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb intransitive To yield to an overpowering force or overwhelming desire.
  • verb intransitive To give up, or give in.
  • verb intransitive To die.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb be fatally overwhelmed
  • verb consent reluctantly

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English succomben, to bring down, from Old French succomber, from Latin succumbere, to lie under, yield : sub-, sub- + -cumbere, to lie down (as in accumbere, to lie down).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French succomber, from Latin succumbere.

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Examples

  • The family agreed to undergo testing to aid the research and though the names of family members who will succumb is known in the laboratories the family agreed they didn't want to be told.

    The Family That Couldn't Sleep - Portobello Books 2007

  • The family agreed to undergo testing to aid the research and though the names of family members who will succumb is known in the laboratories the family agreed they didn't want to be told.

    40 entries from September 2007 2007

  • The family agreed to undergo testing to aid the research and though the names of family members who will succumb is known in the laboratories the family agreed they didn't want to be told.

    The Family That Couldn't Sleep - Portobello Books 2007

  • There are certain combats in which to be the one to succumb is to claim the honours; -- and that is what women will not learn.

    The Egoist George Meredith 1868

  • There are certain combats in which to be the one to succumb is to claim the honours; -- and that is what women will not learn.

    Complete Project Gutenberg Works of George Meredith George Meredith 1868

  • Julian Bennett the latest to succumb, which isn't ideal as we only have shuffling or reserve options to cover him.

    Through the seasons before us.. 2008

  • Julian Bennett the latest to succumb, which isn't ideal as we only have shuffling or reserve options to cover him.

    Through the seasons before us.. 2008

  • HOLMES: You're telling me that they kind of succumb to PR pressure?

    CNN Transcript Jul 27, 2008 2008

  • Perhaps the use of the word "succumb" may be more appropriate in my case and sex workers 'as well.

    grrl talk 2005

  • Mugabe vowed he would not "succumb" to pressure to enter into dialogue with the MDC.

    ANC Daily News Briefing 2005

Comments

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  • If you can't beat 'um, succumb!

    October 6, 2007

  • When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

    December 21, 2010