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rescinded,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
-
rescindssimple
-
have rescindedperfect
-
has rescindedperfect
-
am rescindingprogressive
-
are rescindingprogressive
-
is rescindingprogressive
-
have been rescindingperfect progressive
-
has been rescindingperfect progressive
Past
-
rescindedsimple
-
had rescindedperfect
-
was rescindingprogressive
-
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 Things that are rescinded: policies, court decisions, regulations, and official statements.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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Crucible
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
Dickinson said the Teamsters’ legal petition aims to have the court rescind the DMV’s revised regulations until after an economic study is completed and the public is consulted.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins actually announced intentions to rescind the rule last year, so Tuesday’s announcement was more confirmation of the administration’s formal action on the rule.
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
“No thank you,” Rahel said, hoping that if she could somehow effect her own punishment, Ammu would rescind hers.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
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 new law, passed by unanimous vote, rescinds what had been a two-year deadline to sue.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 15, 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
Gérard condemns Chénier to death, but is melted by Madeleine's pleading, and rescinds the order for his execution.
From The Opera A Sketch of the Development of Opera. With full Descriptions of all Works in the Modern Repertory. by J. A. Fuller-Maitland
The council vote this week rescinded the bans in discretionary zones, which had been established at the urging of former District 13 Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, who was defeated for reelection by Soto-Martínez in 2022.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
Chaos immediately ensued, resulting in the memo being rescinded 48 hours later.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
The report was later rescinded, according to another document in the trove.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 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
My father was running right and left, exhausted, consoling friends, checking with the Jewish Council just in case the order had been rescinded.
From "Night" by Elie Wiesel
The United States on Monday removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, rescinding a decades-old designation that came with severe economic restrictions and marking another step in warming ties between the countries.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 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
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
Arias added that any agreement would need to include rescinding about 700 job cuts that are expected to fall heavily on his members.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026
Five million acres were to be set aside to satisfy the claims of those who had suffered loss by the rescinding act of Georgia.
From Union and Democracy by Allen Johnson
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.
