succumb

succumb to (something)

1. To allow oneself to be overcome or overpowered by something; to submit or yield to something. No, we cannot succumb to our desires. We must remain chaste before our wedding! I really did have every intention of sticking to my diet, but I succumbed to temptation when my coworker brought in donuts last Friday.

2. To die as a result of something, such as disease, injury, old age, etc. He fought the cancer with bravery and dignity until the bitter end, but sadly he succumbed to the awful disease yesterday morning. My grandmother wanted to make one final trip to Kyoto before succumbing to old age.

See also: succumb, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

succumb to something

to yield to something, especially a temptation, fatal disease, a human weakness, etc. He finally succumbed to his pneumonia. She did not succumb to the disease until she was very old.

See also: succumb, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.