yield

"Yield" is a word that that has two different meanings, depending on whether it’s used as a verb or it’s used as a noun.

This word is often used when measuring the output* of a business or a farm. "Yield" also refers to results.

• The yield on corn this year might be a little lower than last year.
• Farmers improved their yield by using new farming techniques.
• Crop rotation yields good results because it helps improve the quality of the soil. (This sentence uses "yield" as a verb.)
• Changes to the company’s management did not yield the kind of results that everyone expected.
• Our investment yielded an eleven percent return.

When this word is used as a verb, sometimes it means to give way, surrender, or allow another person to pass:

• The company yielded to demands made by the employees and raised their hourly wage.
• The militants said that they wouldn’t yield and they wouldn’t give up.
• The man yielded to the woman’s request.
• A large beam supporting the roof yielded under the weight of the snow and the roof collapsed.
• Where these two roads merge, it’s necessary for cars to yield to oncoming traffic.

This is a yield sign. Wherever you see it, allow approaching cars to go ahead of you.

The "y" sound in English is difficult for some students. For practice in pronouncing the "y" sound, click here.

*output: that which is produced; an amount of production

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This page was first published on September 25, 2013. It was updated on May 1, 2016.