yield
To yield can refer to giving something up or surrendering control when required by law. For example, to stop in order to allow other vehicles or pedestrians to go past is to yield the right-of-way. Another example is to yield assets during a criminal investigation after a court orders the seizure and forfeiture of a suspect’s assets. Another example can be a representative (such as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives) “yielding the floor” or relinquishing their control over the room when the representative has finished speaking.
Yield can also mean to bring forth a result, as when a search or investigation yields criminal evidence, or when an investment yields a profit. For example, a document found by the prosecutor may yield new evidence of a defendant’s wrongdoing.
[Last reviewed in November of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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