renounce
Americanverb (used with object)
-
renounces,
present (3rd person singular)
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renounced,
past participle, past
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renouncing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
renounces,
present (3rd person singular)
-
renounced,
past participle, past
-
renouncing
present participle
noun
verb
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(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
Synonym Usage
See abandon.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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renouncementnoun
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renouncernoun
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self-renouncementnoun
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nonrenouncingadjective
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renounceableadjective
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renunciableadjective
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self-renouncedadjective
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self-renouncingadjective
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unrenounceableadjective
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unrenouncedadjective
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unrenouncingadjective
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unrenunciableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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renouncesimple
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renouncessimple
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have renouncedperfect
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has renouncedperfect
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am renouncingprogressive
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are renouncingprogressive
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is renouncingprogressive
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have been renouncingperfect progressive
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has been renouncingperfect progressive
Past
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renouncedsimple
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had renouncedperfect
-
was renouncingprogressive
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were renouncingprogressive
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had been renouncingperfect progressive
Future
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”
Explanation
To renounce is to officially give up or turn away from. If you decide to become a vegetarian, you will renounce hamburgers and bacon. The transitive verb renounce is a stronger, more formal way of saying that you reject or disown something. A prince who's tired of the royal life could renounce his title and become a commoner, and a senator who wanted to become an independent would have to renounce her ties to her previous political party. You'd be wise to heed the wisdom of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who said: “To renounce liberty is to renounce being a man, to surrender the rights of humanity and even its duties.”
Vocabulary lists containing renounce
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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:
In Thailand, Buddhist monks take a vow of celibacy and also renounce material possessions.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
"Along with our vow to renounce war, I reaffirmed our determination to continue fulfilling our responsibility to uphold Japan's postwar path as a peaceful nation," he added.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Draining a few isn’t enough to make them renounce their loyalty to his congregation, known as the Beautiful Unwell.
From Salon ● Jun. 13, 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
“It is up to you,” I said, “not us, to renounce violence.”
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Japan's constitution renounces offensive military force, and successive governments have maintained a decades-old pledge not to possess nuclear weapons, produce them or permit their introduction into the country.
From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026
Senior US official Dan Negrea said the US delegation would continue to make similar stands until France "renounces their condescending and disrespectful rhetoric".
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
A disclaimer is a legal document in which someone renounces an asset that was set to be inherited.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
When Elisabeta is killed, he renounces God and sets off on his quest for his love.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2026
As long as a man knows that he renounces, the happiness of his renunciation is born of pride.
From Life and Writings of Maurice Maeterlinck by Jethro Bithell
Hilton became a U.S. citizen in 2021 and last year renounced his British citizenship.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
South Korean authorities banned him from the country after he renounced his citizenship and became a US national shortly before he was due to serve in the military.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
The chairman has renounced providing the type of verbal cues his predecessors used to shape investors’ thinking about upcoming rate moves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026
Piker later renounced the statement, saying it was wrong, but the fact that he said it once still continues to be brought up, again and again, in El-Sayed’s race.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
In 1974, instead of reclaiming his roots by visiting Bursa, my father renounced them.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
The lower fee for renouncing citizenship “may remove a symbolic administrative barrier to renunciation, but it does not change the core financial analysis,” Concepción said.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 17, 2026
St Francis founded the Franciscan order after renouncing his wealth and devoting his life to the poor.
From Barron's ● Feb. 22, 2026
In 2020, she ran for president, renouncing her anti-LGBTQ views and apologizing for her earlier stance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 4, 2026
By week’s end he had withdrawn the threats, without formally renouncing the goal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 24, 2026
Leaders may enhance their informal status by renouncing formal symbols.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
