rescind
Americanverb (used with object)
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rescinds,
present (3rd person singular)
-
rescinded,
past participle, past
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rescinding
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
rescindsimple
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rescindssimple
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have rescindedperfect
-
has rescindedperfect
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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
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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 Things that are rescinded: policies, court decisions, regulations, and official statements.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:
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
Smith's motion asked the council to "rescind" the pledge and request council officers to "review any policies, targets and spending commitments" introduced as a result of the declaration.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
FIFA’s decision to rescind Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension for the red card he received against Bosnia-Herzegovina strengthens U.S. chances for advancing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
Should Fifa now rescind any suspension after a red card from an accidental act?
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
“Since you violated the rules of the competition, we must rescind your first-place victory.”
From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein
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
“NCAA rescinds its ban on events in states with legal gambling, doubles down on kids charging for autographs on jerseys.”
From Seattle Times ● May 10, 2019
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
Chaos immediately ensued, resulting in the memo being rescinded 48 hours later.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
The announcement came days after UC’s faculty admissions board pulled back on its study plan without offering alternatives or giving a public explanation as to why it rescinded its vote on the original plan.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
FIFA's decision came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had called for the card to be rescinded.
From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026
The council added it had "already taken corrective action" and asked anyone who still needed a ticket rescinded to email.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
A number of the newer regulations regarding study and free time were immediately rescinded.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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
After rescinding Ream's caution, Makkelie instead booked former Newcastle United forward Almiron, who had clearly dived.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
No one wants to issue a downgrade, only to end up rescinding it if the world changes just a few days later.
From Barron's ● Mar. 24, 2026
Among them were comments from environmentalists, scientists, civil rights groups and public health organizations who argued that rescinding the finding is contrary to climate science and public health.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 2026
I heard the end of the debate on Chandos’ motion, when Peel gave O’Connell a severe dressing, and I heard the debate on rescinding the order for a committee on Baron Smith.
From The Greville Memoirs A Journal of the Reigns of King George IV and King William IV, Vol. III by Charles Greville
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.
