VocabuoDictionaryGet the app
nounnounnoun

das Einlenken

yielding

Definition & meaning

Einlenken is the nominalized verb einlenken and means giving in, compromising, or adopting a more conciliatory position after disagreement.

It often describes a person who stops resisting and agrees to negotiate or accept another position:

  • Nach langen Verhandlungen kam es zu einem Einlenken der Regierung.
    “After lengthy negotiations, the government made a concession.”
  • Sein Einlenken verhinderte eine weitere Eskalation.
    “His willingness to compromise prevented further escalation.”

The related verb can also have a literal meaning: to steer into a bend or turn in a road.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Gender: neuter: das Einlenken
  • Word type: nominalized infinitive
  • Related verb: einlenken
  • Parts: ein- + lenken
  • Literal origin: lenken means “to steer” or “to guide”; ein- conveys movement into something. The figurative meaning developed from “steering into the right direction” to “moving toward agreement.”

As a verb, einlenken is separable:

  • Er lenkte schließlich ein.
    “He finally gave in.”

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

  • die Kompromissbereitschaft — willingness to compromise; emphasizes an attitude or readiness rather than the actual act of giving in.
  • das Nachgeben — yielding or giving way; can sound less cooperative and more like surrendering under pressure.
  • die Zustimmung — agreement or approval; more neutral and does not necessarily imply that there was a previous disagreement.
  • die Versöhnung — reconciliation; focuses on restoring a friendly relationship rather than merely changing one’s position.
  • die Annäherung — rapprochement or moving closer together; usually suggests progress toward agreement by both sides.

Antonyms

  • der Widerstand — resistance; active opposition to a proposal or demand.
  • die Verweigerung — refusal or denial; stronger and more explicit than simply not yet compromising.
  • die Konfrontation — confrontation; emphasizes open conflict rather than a move toward agreement.
  • das Beharren — insistence on maintaining one’s position; the direct opposite of changing course or yielding.
  • die Eskalation — escalation; describes a conflict becoming more intense, often as a consequence of failing to reach an Einlenken.

Common phrases & collocations

  • zu einem Einlenken bereit sein [?](vocabuo://word/zu einem Einlenken bereit sein) — to be willing to compromise
  • ein Einlenken signalisieren [?](vocabuo://word/ein Einlenken signalisieren) — to signal a willingness to compromise
  • ein vorsichtiges Einlenken [?](vocabuo://word/ein vorsichtiges Einlenken) — a cautious concession
  • politisches Einlenken [?](vocabuo://word/politisches Einlenken) — political compromise or concession
  • nach langem Streit einlenken [?](vocabuo://word/nach langem Streit einlenken) — to give in after a long dispute
  • nicht einlenken [?](vocabuo://word/nicht einlenken) — not to compromise or refuse to yield

Make “Einlenken” part of your vocabulary.

Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.

Get Vocabuo on the App StoreGet Vocabuo for Android

Examples

Sein Einlenken verhinderte einen langen Streit.noun

His yielding prevented a long dispute.

Keep exploring German

Learn words from the content you love.

Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).

Download on theApp StoreGET IT ONGoogle Play