cave in
3 meanings
finally agree to something after refusing for a long time
What does "cave in" mean in this sense?
Examples
- The government caved in to public pressure and reversed the new tax policy.
- After weeks of negotiation, the company finally caved in and agreed to the workers' wage demands.
- She had promised herself she wouldn't cave in, but she eventually agreed to their terms.
How to use it
The most common pattern — the source of pressure follows the complete phrasal verb with 'to', never between 'cave' and 'in'.
The board eventually caved in to shareholder demands and scrapped the merger.
When the source of pressure is already known from context, a pronoun can replace the full noun phrase after 'to'.
The protesters had been relentless, and the council finally caved in to them.
The 'to' complement can be dropped entirely when the source of pressure is clear from context, leaving 'cave in' to stand alone.
Everyone predicted the company would hold out, but by Friday they had caved in.
Adverbs such as 'eventually', 'finally', and 'ultimately' are very natural here, reinforcing the idea of sustained resistance before surrender.
After months of public criticism, the minister ultimately caved in and withdrew the proposal.
The infinitive form is common after modal-like expressions, especially when describing someone's determination to hold their position.
The union made clear it would refuse to cave in to any offer below a five percent pay rise.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Cave in' is always intransitive — you cannot place a direct object between 'cave' and 'in', or after 'in' as a direct object. The thing you are yielding to is introduced with 'to', not treated as a direct object.
When the subject is a building, tunnel, or physical structure, 'cave in' means to collapse inward — a completely different meaning. Reserve this sense for people, organisations, and institutions yielding to pressure.
'Cave in' always implies a period of resistance before giving way — it sounds unnatural if someone agrees straightaway or happily. For quick or willing agreement, choose a different verb.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works equally well in spoken English and written journalism. It always implies that the person or group resisted for some time before giving way, so it sounds odd if someone agrees immediately.
fall down or sink inward (a roof, the ground)
Sense 2: What does "cave in" mean?
Examples
- The roof of the old warehouse caved in after hours of heavy snowfall.
- Three workers were trapped when the tunnel caved in unexpectedly.
- Investigators confirmed that the floor had caved in due to years of water damage.
How to use it
This is the core pattern — the thing that collapses is always the subject, and no object follows.
The ceiling of the abandoned factory caved in during the night.
Use 'under' to specify what weight or force caused the collapse.
The tunnel caved in under the weight of the saturated soil above it.
Adverbs like 'suddenly', 'completely', or 'partially' pair naturally to describe how the collapse happened.
Part of the mineshaft partially caved in, blocking the main exit.
Use a time phrase with 'after' or 'during' to link the collapse to a triggering event.
The trench caved in after several days of heavy rain.
When you want to name an external cause as the subject, use 'cause [structure] to cave in' rather than placing the cause directly before the phrasal verb.
Years of neglect caused the floor of the building to cave in.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
In this physical sense, 'cave in' is intransitive — it cannot take a direct object. To name what caused the collapse, use a separate construction such as 'caused the roof to cave in'.
The same form 'cave in' is used figuratively to mean 'yield to pressure', but that sense always has a person or organisation as the subject. If your subject is a structure (roof, tunnel, floor), you're in the physical sense; if it's a person or group, it's the figurative sense.
'In' is an essential part of this phrasal verb and cannot be left out. Saying 'the roof caved' sounds archaic or incomplete to modern speakers.
Usage
This sense is neutral and works in both formal writing (e.g. news reports, engineering documents) and everyday spoken English. It is most common in past tense when describing a specific event. Do not confuse it with the figurative 'cave in' meaning to give in to pressure, which has a person or organisation as subject.
finally agree to something after resisting pressure or demands
Sense 3: What does "cave in to sth" mean?
Examples
- The prime minister caved in to demands from the opposition and agreed to delay the vote.
- After weeks of protests, the council has caved in to public pressure and reversed the decision.
- Will the administration cave in to lobbying from the energy sector, or hold firm on its climate targets?
How to use it
The standard pattern: the three parts function as a fixed unit, and the source of pressure always follows 'to' as a noun phrase.
The health secretary eventually caved in to demands from frontline workers and agreed to reopen pay talks.
Used when the pressure involves a specific action; 'calls for' or 'pressure to' bridge the phrasal verb and the demanded action.
The regulator finally caved in to calls for an independent inquiry into the data breach.
The preposition and its object can be dropped when the source of pressure is already clear from context, producing a natural short form.
Analysts had expected the administration to hold its position, but it caved in within days.
Modal and semi-modal constructions are common, especially in political reporting that speculates on whether a party will yield.
The party leadership insists it will not cave in to pressure from its own backbenchers.
Adverbs such as 'eventually' or 'finally' are very frequently used with this verb to reinforce that resistance preceded the capitulation.
After months of holding out, the coalition finally caved in to international pressure and agreed to the ceasefire terms.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Cave in to' is a fixed three-part unit and cannot be split. Nothing should be inserted between 'cave', 'in', and 'to'.
'Give in to' is broader and works for personal yielding — to temptation, emotion, or everyday requests. 'Cave in to' is specifically used for political, institutional, or diplomatic capitulation after visible resistance, and carries a stronger critical tone.
Caving in to pressure describes a decisive moment of capitulation, not an ongoing process, so continuous forms sound unnatural.
Usage
This phrasal verb is most common in formal, journalistic, and political contexts. It always implies the subject initially resisted before yielding, and it usually carries a negative tone suggesting weakness or inconsistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'cave in' always need 'to' after it, or can I leave it out?
You can leave out the 'to' complement whenever the source of pressure is already clear from context — 'in the end, they caved in' is completely natural. However, if you want to specify what someone yielded to, you must use 'to': 'they caved in to the pressure'. Never drop 'to' and place the noun directly after 'in'.
Can I use 'cave in' in the present continuous — for example, 'the government is caving in'?
It's possible, but it sounds a little awkward unless you're describing something unfolding in real time, such as live negotiation coverage. The simple past and present perfect are far more natural for this verb, since the idea of a completed surrender fits its meaning better than an ongoing process.
Is 'cave in' stronger than 'give in'?
Yes, slightly. Both mean yielding after resistance, but 'cave in' suggests a more dramatic, reluctant collapse under heavy or sustained pressure — almost as if a wall has finally broken through. 'Give in' is more general and can describe a quieter or more gradual concession. In practice, they are often interchangeable, but 'cave in' adds more force.
What kinds of subjects can 'cave in' have?
The subject is always a person, group, or institution — a politician, a company, a government, a manager, a union. It should never be a physical object in this sense; a collapsing roof or tunnel uses the same words but is an entirely different meaning. Think of the subject as someone who had a position to defend before giving it up.
Is 'cave in' used more in journalism or in everyday conversation?
Both, actually. It appears frequently in news reporting and political commentary — especially about governments reversing policies or companies settling disputes — but it's equally natural in casual spoken English when you're describing someone who backed down after resisting. It sits between neutral and slightly informal, and is considerably more colloquial than formal alternatives like 'capitulate' or 'yield'.
Can I use 'cave in' in the present continuous, like 'the roof is caving in'?
It's possible, but only if you're describing a collapse that is visibly happening right in front of you in real time — for example, calling out a warning as it happens. In most cases, you'd use the simple past ('the roof caved in') to describe a completed event, since collapses tend to be sudden and are usually reported after the fact.
Can 'cave in' be used in the passive, like 'the tunnel was caved in'?
No — 'cave in' in the physical sense is intransitive, meaning it doesn't take an object, so a passive construction isn't possible. The thing that collapses is always the subject of the sentence: 'the tunnel caved in', not 'the tunnel was caved in'.
What kinds of things can 'cave in' as a subject? Can I say a ship or a car 'caved in'?
The most natural subjects are structural or geological elements — roofs, ceilings, tunnels, mine shafts, floors, walls, and ground. You could use it with other structures if the meaning is clear, but it would sound unusual with a ship or car. For those, 'buckle', 'crumple', or 'collapse' would typically be more natural choices.
Is 'cave in' more common in British or American English?
It's used in both British and American English without a strong regional preference. You'll find it in international news reporting and everyday conversation in both varieties. Its close synonym 'fall in' (for roofs and ceilings specifically) tends to sound slightly more British, but 'cave in' is widely understood and used on both sides of the Atlantic.
What's the difference between 'cave in' and 'collapse' — can I always swap them?
'Collapse' is more general and can describe anything falling in any direction. 'Cave in' is more specific and vivid — it implies an inward or downward folding movement, and it's particularly associated with underground or enclosed structures like tunnels and mines. It also has a slightly more informal, dramatic feel, which is why it appears often in eyewitness accounts and news headlines.
Can 'cave in to' be used in the passive?
No. Because the noun phrase after 'to' is a prepositional object rather than a direct object, the construction cannot be passivised. You can only use it with an active subject — for example, 'The government caved in to the demands', not 'The demands were caved in to'.
Does 'cave in to' always have a negative meaning?
Almost always, yes. The phrase frames capitulation as weakness or inconsistency, and it is rarely used in a neutral or positive way. If you want to describe a more respectful or reasonable adjustment to pressure, phrases like 'respond to' or 'bow to' can sometimes feel less loaded.
Can an individual person be the subject, or is it only used for governments and organisations?
In practice, the subject is almost always an institution, government, political leader, or organisation. Using it for a private individual in a personal situation sounds unnatural — in those contexts, 'give in to' is the better choice.
What kinds of nouns typically follow 'cave in to'?
The most natural objects are abstract nouns referring to external force: 'pressure', 'demands', 'lobbying', 'opposition', and 'calls for reform' are all very common. Collective nouns referring to groups applying the pressure — 'trade unions', 'protesters', 'critics', 'the media' — are also frequently used.
Is 'cave in to' mainly used in British English or is it common in American English too?
It is used in both British and American English, particularly in political journalism and commentary. There is no strong regional restriction — you will encounter it in reporting from either side of the Atlantic.
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