renew
Americanverb (used with object)
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to begin or take up again, as an acquaintance, a conversation, etc.; resume.
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to make effective for an additional period.
to renew a lease.
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to restore or replenish.
to renew a stock of goods.
- Synonyms:
- restock
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to make, say, or do again.
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to revive; reestablish.
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to recover (youth, strength, etc.).
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to restore to a former state; make new or as if new again.
- Synonyms:
- mend, reinstate, regenerate, rejuvenate, re-create
verb (used without object)
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to begin again; recommence.
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to renew a lease, note, etc.
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to be restored to a former state; become new or as if new again.
verb
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to take up again
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(also intr) to begin (an activity) again; recommence
to renew an attempt
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to restate or reaffirm (a promise, etc)
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(also intr) to make (a lease, licence, or contract) valid or effective for a further period
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to extend the period of loan of (a library book)
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to regain or recover (vigour, strength, activity, etc)
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to restore to a new or fresh condition
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to replace (an old or worn-out part or piece)
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to replenish (a supply, etc)
Synonym Usage
Renew, renovate, repair, restore suggest making something the way it formerly was. To renew means to bring back to an original condition of freshness and vigor: to renew one's enthusiasm. Renovate means to do over or make good any dilapidation of something: to renovate an old house. To repair is to put into good or sound condition; to make good any injury, damage, wear and tear, decay, etc.; to mend: to repair the roof of a house. To restore is to bring back to its former place or position something which has faded, disappeared, been lost, etc., or to reinstate a person in rank or position: to restore a king to his throne.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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renewsimple
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renewssimple
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have renewedperfect
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has renewedperfect
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am renewingprogressive
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are renewingprogressive
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is renewingprogressive
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have been renewingperfect progressive
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has been renewingperfect progressive
Past
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renewedsimple
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had renewedperfect
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was renewingprogressive
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were renewingprogressive
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had been renewingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of renew
First recorded in 1325–75, renew is from the Middle English word renewen. See re-, new
Explanation
If you make something like new, you renew it. When you catch up with an old friend you haven't seen in a long time, you renew your friendship. To renew is to make new again. If you get a new due date for your library books, you've renewed them. If you forget to renew them, your books will be overdue, and you may have to pay a fine. Renew also means to revive, restore, or cause to appear in a new form. Historically, all kinds of tonics have claimed to renew a person's health, but many of the early ones actually contained poisons that could kill you.
Vocabulary lists containing renew
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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:
For both the Beignet and Sopaipilla bonds, Meta provided a so-called residual-value guarantee that makes bondholders whole if Meta opted not to renew its lease or terminate it early.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Real Madrid have tried to renew their attacker's contract and opened further talks with him on Monday - but, as of yet, to no avail.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The United Nations General Assembly voted Friday to renew Volker Turk's mandate as high commissioner for human rights for four years despite strong opposition from the United States, Russia and Israel.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
“Any refusal to renew this license would be strongly against the public interest,” the group wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
“Outliving beauty’s outward with a mind that doth renew swifter than blood decays.”
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
From a scenic perspective, the new production of “The Adding Machine” from the Actors’ Gang at the Ivy Substation in Culver City renews the demi-classic with stark beauty.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026
They reckon Sembcorp Industries could benefit from these higher prices if its gas-importing subsidiary renews contracts to sell gas to others.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 17, 2026
Tuesday night's attack on Bohodukhiv comes as Moscow renews strikes after a week-long pause US President Donald Trump had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to observe as a fierce cold swept Ukraine.
From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026
Here’s the insider move: Set a reminder on your phone before your subscription renews.
From Salon ● Feb. 11, 2026
Bobby believed deeply in the notion that a play renews itself every day, in rehearsal or performance.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
Alfonsi’s contract wasn’t renewed at the end of last season.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Newsom faced renewed criticism for the affair during the 2018 governor’s race amid a larger reckoning over sexual misconduct in politics, corporate America and Hollywood.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
I could say that lately I’ve been regarding the things I find nourishing with renewed appreciation.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
Mitsotakis congratulated the British director in a teleconference on Monday on the success of the movie that has renewed internatational interest in Homer's ancient epic.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
Though we weren't permitted to see him, just knowing he was alive gave us a renewed sense of purpose.
From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson
In the suit, the plaintiff alleged that they did not provide all necessary disclosures before automatically renewing users’ subscriptions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Doing so keeps the Constitution at the center of our popular democratic culture, renewing our loyalty to the document and our sense of its relevance.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
The latest escalation, which is renewing concerns over the future of the Strait of Hormuz and supply tightness in the third quarter, pushed U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
The ESTC, which costs £65 a year for renewing adult members, was given an allocation of 3,000 tickets for the match at the 80,824 Azteca, which cannot be increased.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
“Mom, you spent the whole summer renewing your certificate.”
From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
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.
