renounce
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
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(tr) to give up (a claim or right), esp by formal announcement
to renounce a title
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(tr) to repudiate
to renounce Christianity
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(tr) to give up (some habit, pursuit, etc) voluntarily
to renounce smoking
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(intr) cards to fail to follow suit because one has no cards of the suit led
noun
Synonym Usage
See abandon.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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renouncementnoun
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renouncernoun
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self-renouncementnoun
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nonrenouncingadjective
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renounceableadjective
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renunciableadjective
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self-renouncedadjective
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self-renouncingadjective
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unrenounceableadjective
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unrenouncedadjective
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unrenouncingadjective
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unrenunciableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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renouncesimple
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renouncessimple
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have renouncedperfect
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has renouncedperfect
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am renouncingprogressive
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are renouncingprogressive
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is renouncingprogressive
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have been renouncingperfect progressive
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has been renouncingperfect progressive
Past
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renouncedsimple
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had renouncedperfect
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was renouncingprogressive
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were renouncingprogressive
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had been renouncingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of renounce
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English renouncen, from Middle French renoncer, from Latin renūntiāre “to bring back word, disclaim,” equivalent to re- re- + nūntiāre “to announce,” derivative of nūntius “messenger, news”
Explanation
To renounce is to officially give up or turn away from. If you decide to become a vegetarian, you will renounce hamburgers and bacon. The transitive verb renounce is a stronger, more formal way of saying that you reject or disown something. A prince who's tired of the royal life could renounce his title and become a commoner, and a senator who wanted to become an independent would have to renounce her ties to her previous political party. You'd be wise to heed the wisdom of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who said: “To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man, to surrender the rights of humanity and even its duties.”
Vocabulary lists containing renounce
The New SAT: Multiple-Meaning Words
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Ender's Game
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Little Women
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Draining a few isn’t enough to make them renounce their loyalty to his congregation, known as the Beautiful Unwell.
From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2026
In a call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, Wadephul stressed that Germany supported a negotiated solution but that "Iran must completely and verifiably renounce nuclear weapons and immediately open the Strait of Hormuz".
From Barron's ● May 4, 2026
It would appear, in a world where someone can divorce and remarry, switch political allegiance or renounce a religious faith, ending a relationship with a football club is largely unheard of.
From BBC ● Mar. 29, 2026
“We have decided to renounce offshore wind development in the United States,” said CEO Patrick Pouyanné.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026
“I am not sorry. I will not renounce my actions. I love her. I love the princess.”
From "The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread" by Kate DiCamillo
After World War Two, Japan adopted the constitution, including Article 9, which prohibits the maintenance of armed forces and renounces war as a right of sovereignty.
From BBC ● May 7, 2026
"By yielding to pressure, it weakens collective action and renounces its potential leading role," she told AFP.
From Barron's ● Apr. 23, 2026
A disclaimer is a legal document in which someone renounces an asset that was set to be inherited.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
When Elisabeta is killed, he renounces God and sets off on his quest for his love.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2026
Dr. Mozley has himself shown that miracles cannot be explained either by unknown connection with known law, or by reference to unknown law; and he renounces the explanation of "higher law."
From Supernatural Religion, Vol. I. (of III) An Inquiry into the Reality of Divine Revelation by Cassels, Walter Richard
He is a Cypriot citizen, having renounced his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019, and has been living in Monaco.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
Retirees can keep their Medicare benefits even after they’ve renounced their citizenship, but they will usually apply for private international coverage or join the healthcare system in their new home country.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 17, 2026
Three months later, I published a mea culpa, in which I renounced my support for Trump and apologized for my hurtful deeds and rhetoric.
From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2026
He and other Minju leaders haven’t renounced their youthful activities or beliefs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026
And so when he turned four, Milton renounced his cousin’s companionship, preferring to play with neighborhood boys.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
It was recently announced that the cost of renouncing U.S. citizenship has been reduced from $2,350 to $450.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 17, 2026
St Francis, who died on October 3, 1226, founded the Franciscan order after renouncing his wealth and devoting his life to the poor.
From Barron's ● Feb. 22, 2026
In 2020, she ran for president, renouncing her anti-LGBTQ views and apologizing for her earlier stance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2026
By week’s end he had withdrawn the threats, without formally renouncing the goal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 24, 2026
Leaders may enhance their informal status by renouncing formal symbols.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
