relinquish

American

[ri-ling-kwish] / rɪˈlɪŋ kwɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

to renounce or surrender (a possession, right, etc.).

to relinquish the throne.
to give up; put aside or desist from.

to relinquish a plan.

Synonyms:

resign, desert, forswear, quit, leave, abdicate, forego, waive, cede, yield
to let go; release.

to relinquish one's hold.

relinquish British

/ rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ /

verb

to give up (a task, struggle, etc); abandon
to surrender or renounce (a claim, right, etc)
to release; let go

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See abandon.

Other Word Forms

nonrelinquishment noun
relinquisher noun
relinquishment noun
unrelinquished adjective
unrelinquishing adjective

Etymology

Origin of relinquish

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English relinquissen, relinquisshen, from Middle French relinquiss-, long stem of relinquir ≪ Latin relinquere “to leave behind,” equivalent to re- re- + linquere “to leave” (akin to lend )

Explanation

If you relinquish something, you let it go. You relinquish control of the army when you resign as general. You relinquish your plan to sneak into town when your parents find out what's going on. Relinquish is also commonly used to mean physically letting go of something: The monkey wouldn't relinquish its grasp on the banana. Relinquish descends from Latin relinquere, from the prefix re-, "again" plus linquere, "to leave."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing relinquish

The Declaration of Independence

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The Giver

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Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 4

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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.

He said he was actually complying with the act by refusing to relinquish presidential records.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

The White House says Iran has signaled its intention to relinquish its uranium, although Iran hasn’t said that publicly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

In a post-coup period of emergency rule, Min Aung Hlaing served as both commander-in-chief of the armed forces and acting president, but to become permanent president he is constitutionally compelled to relinquish his military post.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Some Senegal players have suggested they will not relinquish their winners' medals.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

I could scream now, cling to the banister, relinquish dignity.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023