renege
Americanverb (used without object)
-
Cards. to play a card that is not of the suit led when one can follow suit; break a rule of play.
-
to go back on one's word.
He has reneged on his promise.
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
renegesimple
-
renegessimple
-
have renegedperfect
-
has renegedperfect
-
am renegingprogressive
-
are renegingprogressive
-
is renegingprogressive
-
have been renegingperfect progressive
-
has been renegingperfect progressive
Past
-
renegedsimple
-
had renegedperfect
-
was renegingprogressive
-
were renegingprogressive
-
had been renegingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of renege
1540–50; earlier renegue < Medieval Latin renegāre, equivalent to re- re- + negāre to deny ( cf. negative)
Explanation
To renege is to go back on your word or fail to keep a promise. Not quite lying, reneging is more a sin of omission — failing to do what you said you would. The Latin negāre means "to deny," so by reneging on your word, you are denying someone whatever you promised them. In card games, you are said to renege if you play against the rules. To renege may be wrong, but it's not necessarily a punishable offense (unless you put that promise legally binding in writing). Still, it certainly doesn't make you look good!
Vocabulary lists containing renege
Spinnin' Around
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Beowulf
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Watson claims the PGA Tour has "made a decision to renege" on what they promised to those who stayed loyal.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026
Simon unleashed a tirade at Coach executive Todd Kahn during their first meeting in the first decade of the 2000s, after the handbag maker tried to renege on deals to open stores in Simon malls.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026
But regulators say some companies renege on their commitments.
From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026
But the optimism deflated significantly in recent weeks, as questions arose about whether Oracle’s customers could renege on these contracts and leave it holding the bag for billions in underutilized infrastructure.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 9, 2025
She’d thought that, at the last minute, Papa would have second thoughts and renege on the deposit.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
However, if a company that signed on reneges on its vow, it would face grave consequences in the court of public opinion, said Cueni.
From Reuters ● Jul. 19, 2022
He also agrees to things and then reneges, and when confronted about it, he spins stories.
From Slate ● Oct. 13, 2021
Jamie reneges on his promise to Claire and ends up embroiled in a duel with Captain Randall.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2016
He asked how City Hall can again be relied on to fulfill its commitments if it reneges on this one.
From New York Times ● Jun. 1, 2015
“His captain's heart Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper.”
From Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Beaumont and Fletcher by Coleridge, Samuel Taylor
Moreover, the filing claims that the new entity reneged on a number of promises, including that members would keep their lifetime voting rights as well as their lifetime tickets to the award show.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
In February 2024, he sued OpenAI and its boss Sam Altman, saying the firm he helped found had reneged on its non-profit, open source origins by hitching its wagon to Microsoft.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
Cipriani filed a lawsuit against Jeff Shell alleging fraud and other counts, saying Shell reneged on an oral agreement to develop an English-language version of a Spanish music show.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026
Instead, the Ravens reneged after reportedly having concerns about Crosby’s physical exam following knee surgery earlier this year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 11, 2026
Because now that the aunt was gone, Ellen had reneged from that triumvirate of which Miss Rosa tried without realising it to make two.
From "Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner
Then again, any promise made by the U.S. or Venezuela is “subject to reneging by subsequent administrations.”
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 7, 2026
The piece reported that the Hermès heir was being sued in Washington, D.C., for allegedly reneging on the deal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2025
A separate group of plaintiffs has sued the government, claiming it’s reneging on its duty to protect the horses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2025
But critics accuse China of reneging on the deal it struck in 1997.
From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2024
But another part of my heart can’t forgive them for reneging on their promise.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
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.
