Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

succumb

/səˈkʌm/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.06 in modern English

Syllables
suc-cumb
IPA
/səˈkʌm/
15
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To yield to an overpowering force or overwhelming desire.

Intransitive verb

verb

To give up, or give in.

Intransitive verb

verb

To die.

Intransitive verb

verb

To overwhelm or bring down.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Italic *supo Latin sub Latin sub- Proto-Indo-European *ḱewb-der. Proto-Italic *kumbō Latin *cumbō Latin succumbere Old French succomberbor. English succumb From Old French succomber, from Latin succumbō.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *ḱewb-, succomber, succumbō

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce succumb?
The recorded pronunciation is /səˈkʌm/.
What does succumb mean?
To yield to an overpowering force or overwhelming desire.
Where does succumb come from?
It is traced to Old French.

How to pronounce succumb

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “succumb”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/səˈkʌm/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “succumb”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “succumb” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.