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.
-
to restore or replenish.
to renew a stock of goods.
- Synonyms:
- restock
-
to make, say, or do again.
-
to revive; reestablish.
-
to recover (youth, strength, etc.).
-
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
-
to take up again
-
(also intr) to begin (an activity) again; recommence
to renew an attempt
-
to restate or reaffirm (a promise, etc)
-
(also intr) to make (a lease, licence, or contract) valid or effective for a further period
-
to extend the period of loan of (a library book)
-
to regain or recover (vigour, strength, activity, etc)
-
to restore to a new or fresh condition
-
to replace (an old or worn-out part or piece)
-
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
-
renewsimple
-
renewssimple
-
have renewedperfect
-
has renewedperfect
-
am renewingprogressive
-
are renewingprogressive
-
is renewingprogressive
-
have been renewingperfect progressive
-
has been renewingperfect progressive
Past
-
renewedsimple
-
had renewedperfect
-
was renewingprogressive
-
were renewingprogressive
-
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
The Vernal Vocabulary of Spring
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 vocabulary
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!
President Obama's second inaugural address
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:
"Defendants shall not enter into, renew, or expand any agreement authorizing the development, creation, dissemination, placement, or airing of the challenged advertisements," Rochon said in the court order.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
Specific reserves are set aside for commercial loans as soon as there is any hint of delinquency or an inability to renew maturing loans.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 11, 2026
In April, the Misfit Bar & Restaurant shuttered after 15 years after its operator chose not to renew its lease, citing conditions in downtown Santa Monica and changes in the building’s ownership.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
In fact, it is quite likely he will renew it if he feels, mentally and physically, up for it.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
“Yes, that’s it. I’m supposed to renew my card, right?”
From "A Step from Heaven" by An Na
The two sides blamed each other for the collapse, which renews questions about the future of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the WSJ’s Amanda Coletta and Gavin Bade write.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
But it is understood that there was positive progress during initial conversations, amid expectation within the Emirates that it is a case of when, not if, the 44-year-old renews.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
The EU must rebalance its trade relationship with China, the bloc's industry chief said Friday, as Brussels renews its focus on commerce ties with Beijing.
From Barron's ● May 22, 2026
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
Bobby believed deeply in the notion that a play renews itself every day, in rehearsal or performance.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
Unless you have recently renewed your U.S. passport, doing so before relocation abroad gives you 10 years until the next expiration date.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
The statement cut against a steep selloff in CoreWeave bonds sparked by renewed fears of AI’s profitability and hot inflation data suggesting higher rates are here to stay.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said endometriosis can have a "devastating impact" on women's lives and said the government's renewed Women's Health Strategy identifies it as a priority condition.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
After his plight was raised on social media by his daughter, Ward said several people had been in touch to say they faced similar issues getting blue badges renewed.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
In retrospect, the answer seems clear: the alternative to staying in Plymouth was returning to Massasoit and renewed captivity.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
The Oscars are headed to YouTube in 2029, as ABC passed on renewing its rights deal, ending a relationship that dates back to 1961, interrupted only by a five-year return to NBC in the 1970s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Beijing says Overseas Chinese Service Centers help its nationals with administrative issues abroad, like renewing drivers licenses.
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
China’s foreign-exchange reserves edged higher in August against the backdrop of a weaker dollar and a surging trade surplus, renewing concerns about the yuan’s appreciation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
Please let me know if you are open to renewing at the current rate.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
There’d be nothing remotely special and we’d spend our tokens just renewing stuff that was wearing out or broken with more of the same.
From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
