rescind
Americanverb (used with object)
-
rescinds,
present (3rd person singular)
-
rescinded,
past participle, past
-
rescinding
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
rescindsimple
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rescindssimple
-
have rescindedperfect
-
has rescindedperfect
-
am rescindingprogressive
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are rescindingprogressive
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is rescindingprogressive
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have been rescindingperfect progressive
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has been rescindingperfect progressive
Past
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rescindedsimple
-
had rescindedperfect
-
was rescindingprogressive
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were rescindingprogressive
-
had been rescindingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of rescind
First recorded in 1630–40; from Latin rescindere “to tear off again, cut away,” equivalent to re- re- + scindere “to tear, divide, destroy”
Explanation
If you get a call saying a company has decided to rescind your job offer, it's back to the classifieds for you. Rescind means "to cancel or revoke." Things that are rescinded: policies, court decisions, regulations, and official statements. What all these examples have in common is that they are on the record. Also, rescind usually refers to promises instead of tangible objects. You can't rescind a shirt a friend has borrowed from you, but you can rescind your offer to loan her your jeans.
Vocabulary lists containing rescind
Night
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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The Crucible
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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:
To believe that even good women might see their minds betray them so spectacularly would be to rescind control over an entire ideology that helps organize your world.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
The remarks followed the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s bid in July to rescind its requirement for companies to file annual reports detailing breakdowns of employees’ race and sex.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
The proposal would rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, enacted in the final days of the Clinton administration, which barred development across vast areas of public forests and grasslands designated as "inventoried roadless areas."
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
"Following an FAI board meeting, the decision was taken to rescind the letter of support that the Association supplied earlier this year," it confirmed.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Vanderbilt worked on Riddle for a few days to get the owner to rescind his boycott of Pimlico and bring his colt back to meet Seabiscuit.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
When you get two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a high school football game, you are suspended for the next game — unless the official rescinds the call.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 26, 2024
The move announced Tuesday rescinds a ban on rainbow-colored Pride tape for on-ice activities that was provided to teams earlier this fall as guidance for theme nights.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 24, 2023
The end of the public health emergency rescinds some of the authorities for us to collect data from states and localities.
From Science Magazine ● Jun. 8, 2023
Unless the NBA office rescinds the technical, Doncic will be forced to sit out the team’s game Monday night against against the Indiana Pacers.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 26, 2023
But it frequently happens that the girl rescinds what has been agreed upon between the parents and bridegroom, obstinately rejecting the very mention of marriage.
From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg
At least 14 cities and counties have shut off more than 900 Flock cameras since state funding was rescinded in late August, and more are scheduled to decide their next steps in the coming weeks.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
Wade’s parole grant was rescinded on Sept. 1, according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation records.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
One rescinded the longstanding definition of "harm," which had covered habitat destruction.
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026
Meanwhile, Fever star Caitlin Clark will avoid a one-match suspension after a technical foul called on her during the third quarter was rescinded after the match.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
We were glad the order was rescinded, but suspicious as to why.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Even she probably can’t keep him from soon rescinding the ban and recovering his access to those sweet, sweet cameras.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
The agency also proposed rescinding every remaining greenhouse gas standard for the power sector, and is seeking public comment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
Then, days before the committee vote, he posted two orders on X, one rescinding the fund and one “clarifying” the immunity’s scope.
From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2026
Musk's appeal to get his pay packet reinstated argues that the lower court made legal errors when rescinding his pay package.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2025
As to rescinding the clause of the Discipline relating to the exclusion of persons for not attending class-meetings, no determination was expressed to enforce it.
From The Story of My Life Being Reminiscences of Sixty Years' Public Service in Canada by J. George (John George) Hodgins
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.
