Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×
1

yield

verb \ ˈyēld \
|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of yield

yielded; yielding; yields
transitive verb
1 archaic : recompense, reward
2 : to give or render as fitting, rightfully owed, or required
3 : to give up possession of on claim or demand: such as
a : to give up (one's breath, life, or spirit) and so die
b : to surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another : hand over possession of
c : to surrender or submit (oneself) to another
d : to give (oneself) up to an inclination, temptation, or habit
e : to relinquish one's possession of (something, such as a position of advantage or point of superiority)
  • yield precedence
4 a : to bear or bring forth as a natural product especially as a result of cultivation
  • the tree always yields good fruit
b : to produce or furnish as return
  • this soil should yield good crops
c (1) : to produce as return from an expenditure or investment : furnish as profit or interest
  • a bond that yields 12 percent
(2) : to produce as revenue : bring in
  • the tax is expected to yield millions
5 : to give up (a hit or run) in baseball
  • yielded two runs in the third inning
intransitive verb
1 : to be fruitful or productive : bear, produce
2 : to give up and cease resistance or contention : submit, succumb
  • facing an enemy who would not yield
  • yielding to temptation
3 : to give way to pressure or influence : submit to urging, persuasion, or entreaty
4 : to give way under physical force (such as bending, stretching, or breaking)
5 a : to give place or precedence : acknowledge the superiority of someone else
b : to be inferior
  • our dictionary yields to none
c : to give way to or become succeeded by someone or something else
6 : to relinquish the floor of a legislative assembly

See yield defined for English-language learners

See yield defined for kids

Examples of yield in a Sentence

  1. The apple trees yielded an abundant harvest.

  2. This soil should yield good crops.

  3. The seeds yield a rich oil.

  4. New methods have yielded promising results in the field.

  5. The studies yielded clear evidence.

  6. The tax is expected to yield millions.

  7. The bond yields seven percent annually.

  8. After several hours of debate, the opposition yielded.

  9. I yield the floor to the Senator from Maine.

  10. I yield to the Senator.

Recent Examples of yield from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'yield.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of yield

Middle English, from Old English gieldan; akin to Old High German geltan to pay

yield Synonyms

Synonyms

bow, cave (in), give in, submit, succumb, surrender;

Antonyms

hold off, resist;

Near Antonyms

battle, breast, combat, confront, counter, defy, face, fight, meet, object, oppose, repel;

thwart, withstand;

reject;

bridle, check, constrain, curb, inhibit, restrain, stifle;

Related Words

cater (to), gratify, indulge, wallow;

acquiesce (to), concede (to);

buckle (under), knuckle under;

give over (to);

Synonym Discussion of yield

yield, submit, capitulate, succumb, relent, defer mean to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist. yield may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty.
    • yields too easily in any argument
submit suggests full surrendering after resistance or conflict to the will or control of another.
    • a repentant sinner vowing to submit to the will of God
capitulate stresses the fact of ending all resistance and may imply either a coming to terms (as with an adversary) or hopelessness in the face of an irresistible opposing force.
    • officials capitulated to the protesters' demands
succumb implies weakness and helplessness to the one that gives way or an overwhelming power to the opposing force.
    • a stage actor succumbing to the lure of Hollywood
relent implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand.
    • finally relented and let the children stay up late
defer implies a voluntary yielding or submitting out of respect or reverence for or deference and affection toward another.
    • I defer to your expertise in these matters

synonyms see in addition relinquish

2

yield

noun

Definition of yield

1 : something yielded : product; especially : the amount or quantity produced or returned
  • yield of wheat per acre
2 : the capacity of yielding produce

See yield defined for English-language learners

Examples of yield in a Sentence

  1. Our yield of wheat increased this year.

  2. The average yield per tree is about one bushel.

  3. The yield on government bonds is currently seven percent.

Recent Examples of yield from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'yield.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of yield

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

yield Synonyms

Synonyms

affair, fruit, handiwork, labor, output, produce, product, production, thing, work;

Related Words

article, commodity, entry, object;

goods, line, merchandise, wares;

handcraft, handicraft;

aftereffect, aftermath, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, effect, issue, outcome, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot;

by-product, derivative, offshoot, offspring, outgrowth, residual, side effect (also side reaction), spin-off;

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

Financial Definition of YIELD

yield
noun

What It Is

Yield refers to the cash return to the owner of a security or investment.

How It Works

In general, yield is calculated as follows:

Periodic Cash Distributions / Total Cost of Investment = Yield

The term yield may refer to slightly different aspects of a return for variable types of investments. For example, a yield on bonds, such as the coupon yield is the annual interest paid on the principal amount of the bond. Current yield is the coupon yield on a bond at a specific point in the time before the bond maturity. A yield to maturity of a bond is the internal rate of return on a bond's cash flow, including the cost of the bonds, period payments from the bonds, if any, and the return of the principal at redemption.

[Use our Yield to Call (YTC) Calculator to measure your annual return if you hold a particular bond until its first call date.]

[Use our Yield to Maturity (YTM) Calculator to measure your annual return if you plan to hold a particular bond until maturity.]

In equities, yields on preferred shares are similar to bond yields. For example, the dividend yield is the total payments in a year from the preferred shares divided by the principal value of the preferred shares. The current yield refers to the annual payments divided by the current market price.

Why It Matters

While yields of various investments do not explain the reasons for the gains and losses, they may mask declines in the underlying value of the assets or the effects of inflation. Using the yield is a convenient way of comparing the returns on various financial investments.

Source: Investing Answers

YIELD Defined for English Language Learners

yield

verb

Definition of yield for English Language Learners

  • : to produce or provide (something, such as a plant or crop)

  • : to produce (something) as a result of time, effort, or work

  • : to produce (a profit, an amount of money, etc.)

yield

noun

Definition of yield for English Language Learners

  • : the amount of something that is produced by a plant, farm, etc.

  • : the profit made from an investment

YIELD Defined for Kids

1

yield

verb \ ˈyēld \

Definition of yield for Students

yielded; yielding
1 : to give (something) over to the power or control of another : surrender The troops would not yield the fort to the enemy.
2 : to give in
  • He yielded to temptation.
3 : to produce as a natural product
  • These trees yield fruit.
4 : to produce or give back as interest or profit
  • The investment yielded eight percent annually.
5 : to be productive : bring good results
  • The studies yielded proof of the theory.
6 : to stop opposing or objecting to something
  • Jenner would not yield to my point of view, nor would I to his.
  • —Robert C. O'Brien, Rats of NIMH
7 : to give way under physical force so as to bend, stretch, or break
  • The rope yielded under the strain.
8 : to allow another person or vehicle to go first
2

yield

noun

Definition of yield for Students

1 : the amount produced or returned
  • The high yield of wheat per acre increased.
2 : 2return 7
  • The yield on government bonds is five percent.

Law Dictionary

1

yield

transitive verb \ ˈyēld \

legal Definition of yield

: to produce as return from an expenditure or investment : furnish as profit or interest
  • an account that yields 6 percent
intransitive verb
1 : to give place or precedence (as to one having a superior right or claim)
2 : to relinquish the floor of a legislative assembly
  • yield to the senator from Maine
2

yield

noun

legal Definition of yield

1 : agricultural production especially per acre of crop
2 : the return on a financial investment usually expressed as a percentage of cost
  • the bond yield was 8 percent

Learn More about yield

  1. See words that rhyme with yield Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for yield Spanish Central: Translation of yield Nglish: Translation of yield for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of yield for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about yield

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up yield? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

balmy

play

soothing, mild, or foolish

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

yield

Test Your Vocabulary

Name More Food!

  • red-fruit
  • Name that Fruit!
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games