1. If something (e.g. a roof or ceiling) caves in, it collapses and falls into the space below it.
Examples of use:
a) The tunnel caved in and trapped the miners
b) Our conservatory roof caved in under the weight of the snow.
2. To cave in is to stop resisting something and suddenly agree to it.
Examples of use:
a) The government will not cave in to teachers’ demands for higher wages.
b) His father refuses to cave in to pressure to get a computer.
c) I caved in and bought the children a puppy.
| infinitive |
cave in |
| present simple |
cave in and caves in |
| -ing form |
caving in |
| past simple |
caved in |
| past participle |
caved in |
Image © John Pavelka
