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yield up

C1 formal separable transitive
In simple words

To finally hand something over or reveal something that was being kept, often when you did not want to.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic formal

To surrender or hand over something, especially reluctantly or under pressure.

"After months of resistance, the rebels finally yielded up their weapons."

"And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."

— Luke 23:46, The Bible (King James Version) — related expression 'yield up the ghost'
Grammar: separable
2 C1 idiomatic formal

To reveal or disclose something that was hidden, secret, or not easily accessible.

"Years of excavation finally caused the ancient site to yield up its secrets."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Literary and formal in tone. Common in religious language (yielding up one's spirit = dying) and in contexts of reluctant surrender. Also used figuratively when something hidden is finally revealed, e.g., 'the archive yielded up its secrets'. Rarely used in everyday conversation.

Commonly used with

secrets spirit soul control power ghost

Forms

Base
yield up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
yields up
he/she/it
Past simple
yielded up
yesterday
Past participle
yielded up
have + pp
-ing form
yielding up
continuous

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