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Synonyms

renewal

American  
[ri-noo-uhl, -nyoo-] / rɪˈnu əl, -ˈnju- /

noun

  • renewals
    plural
  1. the act of renewing.

  2. the state of being renewed.

  3. an instance of this.


renewal British  
/ rɪˈnjuːəl /

noun

  1. the act of renewing or state of being renewed

  2. something that is renewed

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns


Etymology

Origin of renewal

First recorded in 1675–85; renew + -al 2


Explanation

Renewal is the act or process of restoring or reviving something, giving it a fresh burst of life. It could be a forest regrowing after a fire, or a person finding new energy after a good rest. The word renewal comes from the idea of making something "new again." In nature, spring is often seen as a time of renewal, when trees sprout fresh leaves, flowers bloom, and warming temperatures lift people's spirits. Societal renewal can involve refocusing on founding principles and ideals. Urban renewal can include updating community parks, rebuilding roads, and renovating buildings, bringing new life to a city. More simply, a renewal might be an official continuation of an expired contract, law, or subscription.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing renewal

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:

The renewal is the latest in a series of contract extensions at Chelsea designed to reward established and emerging players while maintaining the club's wage structure.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

The pilot scheme was initially agreed to last for a year but had been extended until October 1, meaning it was due for renewal.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

They were also focused on membership renewal rates.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026

Financial analysts expect a further extension could come before this week's summit ends, given that neither side wants a renewal of last year's trade war.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

“Mama said they had to disconnect it today or pay for the whole next month plus a contract renewal fee.”

From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser

There’s been some discourse about the art of the slow burn and how the pacing has changed in an era of short episode orders and unpredictable renewals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

The lawsuit involves eight Disney-owned ABC stations whose license renewals were moved up years ahead of schedule.

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2026

The FCC ordered licence renewals for the Disney-owned ABC stations in April.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Munich Re MUV2 -2.41%decrease; red down pointing triangle lowered its full-year insurance revenue outlook, after both volumes and prices fell at last month’s round of reinsurance-contract renewals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

There was even something to look forward to when school started— renewals of old feuds and friendships, weeks of learning again what one half forgot in the long summer.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee

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