What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
capitulate
Example
After hours of negotiation, the company finally decided to capitulate and accept the terms proposed by the union. [capitulate: verb]
Example
The army was forced to capitulate and surrender to the enemy forces. [capitulating: gerund or present participle]
yield
Example
Please yield to the pedestrians crossing the street. [yield: verb]
Example
The experiment yielded interesting results that could lead to further research. [yielded: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Yield is more commonly used than capitulate in everyday language. Yield is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while capitulate is less common and typically used in more formal or serious situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between capitulate and yield?
While capitulate is associated with a more formal tone, yield can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.