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Renounce: meaning, definitions and examples

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renounce

 

[ rɪˈnaʊns ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

formal

To formally declare one's abandonment or renunciation of a claim, right, or possession. It implies a public or official announcement of one's decision.

Synonyms

abandon, discard, disown, relinquish, surrender.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
renounce

Used when formally or officially giving up a position, right, or belief.

  • He renounced his claim to the throne.
  • She decided to renounce her membership in the club.
relinquish

Used when giving up control, power, or a claim, often unwillingly or reluctantly.

  • He had to relinquish control of the company due to his health issues.
  • She reluctantly relinquished her hold on the treasured heirloom.
surrender

Used when giving up something in response to external pressure, often in a conflict or competitive situation.

  • The enemy soldiers decided to surrender after realizing they couldn't win.
  • She surrendered her passport at the checkpoint.
discard

Used when getting rid of something that is no longer useful or wanted, usually physical objects.

  • She discarded the old clothes that no longer fit her.
  • He discarded the broken computer parts.
abandon

Used when leaving something or someone behind, often in a negative or dramatic situation.

  • The sailors had to abandon the sinking ship.
  • He abandoned his family and moved to another country.
disown

Used when formally rejecting or cutting ties, often within a family or close relationship, and typically has a strong negative connotation.

  • His parents threatened to disown him if he married her.
  • She was disowned by her family for her unconventional choices.

Examples of usage

  • I renounce all claims to the inheritance.
  • She renounced her citizenship and became a citizen of another country.
  • The politician renounced his previous statements and issued an apology.
  • He renounced his position as leader of the organization.
  • The rebel leader renounced violence and called for peace negotiations.

Translations

Translations of the word "renounce" in other languages:

🇵🇹 renunciar

🇮🇳 त्याग करना (tyaag karna)

🇩🇪 verzichten

🇮🇩 menyerah

🇺🇦 відмовлятися

🇵🇱 zrezygnować

🇯🇵 放棄する (ほうきする, houki suru)

🇫🇷 renoncer

🇪🇸 renunciar

🇹🇷 vazgeçmek

🇰🇷 포기하다 (pogihada)

🇸🇦 يتنازل (yatanaazal)

🇨🇿 vzdát se

🇸🇰 vzdať sa

🇨🇳 放弃 (fàngqì)

🇸🇮 odpovedati se

🇮🇸 afneita

🇰🇿 бас тарту

🇬🇪 უარის თქმა (uaris tkma)

🇦🇿 imtina etmək

🇲🇽 renunciar

Etymology

The word 'renounce' originated from the Middle English word 'renuncen', which came from the Old French word 'renoncier', ultimately derived from the Latin word 'renuntiare' meaning 'to declare, announce'. The term has been used since the 14th century to signify the act of formally giving up or rejecting something.

See also: renouncing, renunciation.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,485, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.