renew
Americanverb (used with object)
-
renews,
present (3rd person singular)
-
renewed,
past participle, past
-
renewing
present participle
-
to begin or take up again, as an acquaintance, a conversation, etc.; resume.
-
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)
-
renews,
present (3rd person singular)
-
renewed,
past participle, past
-
renewing
present participle
-
to begin again; recommence.
-
to renew a lease, note, etc.
-
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
-
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:
In fact, it is quite likely he will renew it if he feels, mentally and physically, up for it.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
Advocates for TPS holders said some states have refused to renew their driver’s licenses, while others renewed licenses for different lengths of time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
A mere two days, Colin could not help but note, before their health insurance was set to renew.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
“For this reason, the Church wishes to renew an alliance with artists and cultural institutions to safeguard our humanity.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026
I didn’t want to renew my acquaintance with her at all, but it seemed inevitable.
From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler
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
Price and Value: Don’t just look at the monthly price, check what you’re actually paying upfront and what it’ll cost when it 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
“I had a pretty good suspicion something was up because I hadn’t renewed my contract, and they were sort of ducking me.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
Still, renewed tanker attacks around the Strait of Hormuz are keeping shipping, insurance, routing and security risks elevated, she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
General Mills, Conagra, and McCormick are pursuing cost savings, but rising food commodity prices are putting renewed pressure on their expenses.
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
The latest abduction highlights the risks faced by young people travelling across Nigeria to do their national youth service and has renewed calls for reforms.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Seeing them gave me renewed determination to mend the rift.
From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence
Micron Technology MU 0.00%increase; up pointing triangle earnings after the bell Wednesday comfortably beat consensus expectations, renewing investor confidence that demand for the AI build-out was strong and long-lasting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Please let me know if you are open to renewing at the current rate.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
Hudson said the carrier managed to produce a "strong" result despite disruption from the Middle East conflict and high fuel prices, allowing it to invest in renewing its fleet.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
Memphis Depay has accused Corinthians of "unacceptable behaviour" and of breaching an agreement after the Brazilian club decided against renewing his contract.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
“I didn’t see this coming, but Mr. Beiderman just told me he’s not renewing our lease.”
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
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.
