Synonyms

renew

American

[ri-noo, -nyoo] / rɪˈnu, -ˈnju /

verb (used with object)

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)

to begin again; recommence.
to renew a lease, note, etc.
to be restored to a former state; become new or as if new again.

renew British

/ rɪˈnjuː /

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)

"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

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

Past

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.

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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:

renew renews renewed renewing

These cells first develop during embryonic growth, and scientists have generally believed that they remain in the brain and continually renew themselves throughout a person's life.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026

Chief Executive David Zaslav opted not to renew the pricey basketball contract as Warner has been straining to pay down debt brought on by its last merger in 2022.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

The terms of the relationship with a tenant have to be carefully scrutinized, too, and there is the future risk that the tenant doesn’t renew a lease.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Also, circumstances can change, such as what is on offer when you come to renew or shop around for another mortgage after five years.

From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026

In the four years that followed, Dad got rid of the telephone and chose not to renew his license to drive.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

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

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

Here’s the insider move: Set a reminder on your phone before your subscription renews.

From Salon ● Feb. 11, 2026

Honduran coffee trader Elias Argueta hopes his country renews ties with Taiwan, where he lives with his wife and young daughter.

From Barron's ● Dec. 18, 2025

Bobby believed deeply in the notion that a play renews itself every day, in rehearsal or performance.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

Global oil demand is set for a deeper contraction this year as renewed hostilities in the Middle East and shipping disruptions push up fuel prices and weigh on consumption, the agency said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

At the building’s entrance, a massive banner celebrates the plant’s recently renewed federal operating license, proclaiming “You Made This Possible” above a photograph of smiling staffers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

Scott currently stars in the sitcom series “Shifting Gears,” which was recently renewed for a third season.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

When Tottenham renewed their sponsorship deal with finance company AIA in 2019, it was worth £320m over eight years - at £40m a season, almost five times that of Mansion.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

I understand now that even a happy marriage can be a vexation, that it's a contract best renewed and renewed again, even quietly and privately—even alone.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

The companies are in talks about potentially renewing their deal, which is ending soon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● 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

Arsenal fans campaigned against the new Premier League champions renewing their deal, with the Gunners for Peace group suggesting Tottenham would be a better sleeve sponsor.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Oil prices rose Sunday while U.S. stock-index futures advanced, after the U.S. and Iran continued to trade fire in the Persian Gulf, renewing fears that the Strait of Hormuz may effectively be shut again.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 28, 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