renounce
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
-
(tr) to give up (a claim or right), esp by formal announcement
to renounce a title
-
(tr) to repudiate
to renounce Christianity
-
(tr) to give up (some habit, pursuit, etc) voluntarily
to renounce smoking
-
(intr) cards to fail to follow suit because one has no cards of the suit led
noun
Related Words
See abandon.
Other Word Forms
- nonrenouncing adjective
- renounceable adjective
- renouncement noun
- renouncer noun
- renunciable adjective
- self-renounced adjective
- self-renouncement noun
- self-renouncing adjective
- unrenounceable adjective
- unrenounced adjective
- unrenouncing adjective
- unrenunciable adjective
Etymology
Origin of renounce
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English renouncen, from Middle French renoncer, from Latin renūntiāre “to bring back word, disclaim,” equivalent to re- re- + nūntiāre “to announce,” derivative of nūntius “messenger, news”
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.
It would appear, in a world where someone can divorce and remarry, switch political allegiance or renounce a religious faith, ending a relationship with a football club is largely unheard of.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
It will refuse to renounce the right to enrich uranium, as it did before, having proven it can survive.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026
Aramayo said that while Bolivia would not renounce its claim over its sea access, it "had every desire" to restore full ties with its neighbor.
From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026
Later, O’Neill would renounce the play as a repository of “all the Broadway tricks” he had amassed in his “stage training.”
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025
She thanked Mother for her herbal advice but seemed oblivious to the expectation that she renounce doctors.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
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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.