give in
finally agree to something after first saying no
What does "give in" mean?
Examples
- After weeks of protests, the government finally gave in to the workers' demands.
- She knew she shouldn't eat the cake, but she gave in to temptation.
- He has never given in to bullying, no matter how difficult things got.
How to use it
This is the most common pattern. Use 'to' to introduce the person, demand, or force that someone yields to.
The company eventually gave in to pressure from its customers and changed the policy.
You can use 'give in' without mentioning what someone yielded to — the context usually makes it clear.
They argued for a long time, but she finally gave in.
This pattern is very common when describing someone who does not yield, often despite strong pressure.
Despite the long negotiation, the union refused to give in.
Adverbs like 'finally', 'eventually', 'never', or 'reluctantly' are often used before 'give in' to show how or when the surrender happens.
After hours of discussion, he reluctantly gave in to his colleague's suggestion.
You can follow 'to' with a gerund when describing giving in to an impulse or temptation to do something.
She had been on a strict study schedule all week, but gave in to watching TV on Friday night.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
'Give in' means to yield to someone else's demands or pressure. 'Give up' means to stop trying your own effort or goal. They are not interchangeable — 'give in' always involves an external force you are surrendering to.
'Give in' is followed by 'to' when you mention what someone yields to. You cannot place the object directly after 'give in' without 'to'.
'Give in' cannot be separated. Nothing — not a noun, pronoun, or any other word — can go between 'give' and 'in'.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both spoken and written English. When you mention what someone yields to, always use 'to': 'give in to pressure', never 'give in pressure'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use 'give in' in the present continuous, like 'she is giving in'?
It's better to avoid this form. 'Give in' usually describes a moment of surrender rather than an ongoing action, so tenses like the simple past ('she gave in') or present perfect ('she has given in') sound much more natural. The present continuous form is rare and can sound awkward.
Can 'give in' be used in the passive, like 'the demands were given in to'?
No — 'give in' cannot be used in the passive. Because it is intransitive (it has no direct object), there is nothing to become the subject of a passive sentence. Always use it in the active form.
Does 'give in' always need to mention what someone gave in to?
No, you can use 'give in' on its own without saying what someone yielded to. For example, 'He argued for a while but finally gave in' is perfectly natural. The 'to + noun' part is only needed when you want to specify the person, demand, or force.
What kinds of things can follow 'give in to'?
You can use 'give in to' with external pressures like demands, threats, or persuasion, as well as strong feelings or impulses like temptation, fear, or exhaustion. The key idea is that it should be something outside your own will that you are surrendering to, not just a personal choice to stop an activity.
Does 'give in' have more than one meaning?
The main meaning you'll encounter is to yield or surrender to pressure or demands, which is what this entry covers. You may occasionally see or hear it used in other ways in different contexts, but this sense — giving in to someone or something — is by far the most common.
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