renege
Americanverb (used without object)
-
reneges,
present (3rd person singular)
-
reneged,
past participle, past
-
reneging
present participle
-
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)
-
reneges,
present (3rd person singular)
-
reneged,
past participle, past
-
reneging
present participle
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
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Beowulf
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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:
Creditor lobbyists complain that debtors use bankruptcy to renege on their obligations, while consumer groups blame exploitative lending practices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
To reach a compromise with member states, parliament is under pressure to renege on several amendments it added to the text in March which the Americans consider unacceptable.
From Barron's ● May 19, 2026
After a pre-premiere bidding war results in a $75-million sale, “Medellin” debuts to a round of boos, leading shady businessman Yair Marx to renege on the deal.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026
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
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
This wish is granted, but Salieri reneges on his end of the deal after losing faith in the Almighty.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2026
Australia will now be known as "a place that reneges on a global sports contract", leaving its reputation "in tatters" he added.
From BBC ● Dec. 3, 2023
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
The rule book does not differentiate between deliberate and accidental reneges.
From Competition by James Causey
Soilbuild claims that Brookfield reneged, alleging that the asset manager called off the proposed joint venture two days before Mapletree announced it was selling the properties to Brookfield.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
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
Here it’s especially important for the language to be clear, as Iran has already reneged twice on reopening the Strait.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
Being considered is Musk's claim that Altman - with whom he founded OpenAI - has swindled him out of millions of dollars and reneged on the ChatGPT-maker's original non-profit mission.
From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026
Could the captain have reneged on her promise?
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
Still, unthinkable now is Denmark reneging on its promises, including an independence referendum whenever Greenlanders want one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026
Prosecutors responded to Puig reneging on the plea agreement by charging him with one count of obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements to federal officials.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2026
Then again, any promise made by the U.S. or Venezuela is “subject to reneging by subsequent administrations.”
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 7, 2026
"That means reneging on an international commitment that they've made which isn't acceptable," he added.
From BBC ● Jan. 19, 2025
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.
