renew
Americanverb (used with object)
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to begin or take up again, as an acquaintance, a conversation, etc.; resume.
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to make effective for an additional period.
to renew a lease.
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to restore or replenish.
to renew a stock of goods.
- Synonyms:
- restock
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to make, say, or do again.
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to revive; reestablish.
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to recover (youth, strength, etc.).
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to restore to a former state; make new or as if new again.
- Synonyms:
- mend, reinstate, regenerate, rejuvenate, re-create
verb (used without object)
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to begin again; recommence.
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to renew a lease, note, etc.
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to be restored to a former state; become new or as if new again.
verb
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to take up again
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(also intr) to begin (an activity) again; recommence
to renew an attempt
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to restate or reaffirm (a promise, etc)
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(also intr) to make (a lease, licence, or contract) valid or effective for a further period
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to extend the period of loan of (a library book)
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to regain or recover (vigour, strength, activity, etc)
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to restore to a new or fresh condition
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to replace (an old or worn-out part or piece)
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to replenish (a supply, etc)
Synonym Usage
Renew, renovate, repair, restore suggest making something the way it formerly was. To renew means to bring back to an original condition of freshness and vigor: to renew one's enthusiasm. Renovate means to do over or make good any dilapidation of something: to renovate an old house. To repair is to put into good or sound condition; to make good any injury, damage, wear and tear, decay, etc.; to mend: to repair the roof of a house. To restore is to bring back to its former place or position something which has faded, disappeared, been lost, etc., or to reinstate a person in rank or position: to restore a king to his throne.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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renewsimple
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renewssimple
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have renewedperfect
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has renewedperfect
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am renewingprogressive
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are renewingprogressive
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is renewingprogressive
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have been renewingperfect progressive
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has been renewingperfect progressive
Past
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renewedsimple
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had renewedperfect
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was renewingprogressive
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were renewingprogressive
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had been renewingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of renew
First recorded in 1325–75, renew is from the Middle English word renewen. See re-, new
Explanation
If you make something like new, you renew it. When you catch up with an old friend you haven't seen in a long time, you renew your friendship. To renew is to make new again. If you get a new due date for your library books, you've renewed them. If you forget to renew them, your books will be overdue, and you may have to pay a fine. Renew also means to revive, restore, or cause to appear in a new form. Historically, all kinds of tonics have claimed to renew a person's health, but many of the early ones actually contained poisons that could kill you.
Vocabulary lists containing renew
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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:
Real Madrid have tried to renew their attacker's contract and opened further talks with him on Monday - but, as of yet, to no avail.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The United Nations General Assembly voted Friday to renew Volker Turk's mandate as high commissioner for human rights for four years despite strong opposition from the United States, Russia and Israel.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
But the backstory is important: Earlier this month, the administration decided not to renew the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement.
From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2026
Part essay, part documentary archive, it chronicled the discoveries she made as a private investigator and her attempt to renew her PI license that fall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
He’d crawl out, renew his LED paint, and then come back when he could see what was what.
From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi
But it is understood that there was positive progress during initial conversations, amid expectation within the Emirates that it is a case of when, not if, the 44-year-old renews.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
From a scenic perspective, the new production of “The Adding Machine” from the Actors’ Gang at the Ivy Substation in Culver City renews the demi-classic with stark beauty.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026
Price and Value: Don’t just look at the monthly price, check what you’re actually paying upfront and what it’ll cost when it renews.
From Salon ● Feb. 11, 2026
Three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev renews his rivalry with up-and-coming Learner Tien in the Australian Open last 16, saying Friday: "I don't like to play him, but he must hate to play me as well."
From Barron's ● Jan. 23, 2026
Bobby believed deeply in the notion that a play renews itself every day, in rehearsal or performance.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
The hotel company posted a second-quarter profit of $482 million, or $2.10 a share as renewed demand for mid-range hotels is helping to fuel revenue growth in the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
The tragic accident sparked renewed calls for safety improvements along the 21-mile section of PCH in Malibu, one of the deadliest roads in the state, where 63 people have died since 2010.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
I could say that lately I’ve been regarding the things I find nourishing with renewed appreciation.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
Mitsotakis congratulated the British director in a teleconference on Monday on the success of the movie that has renewed internatational interest in Homer's ancient epic.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
“That housekeeper of yours, Jack Whatever. We’ll get her visa renewed and she’ll continue to look after you. And that way we’ll know where you are if we need you again.”
From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz
The San Bruno-based company owned by Google agreed to a $7.5-million settlement in a class action lawsuit that alleged the company violated California’s automatic renewal law when renewing YouTube TV subscriptions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
The companies are in talks about potentially renewing their deal, which is ending soon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Doing so keeps the Constitution at the center of our popular democratic culture, renewing our loyalty to the document and our sense of its relevance.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2026
The ESTC, which costs £65 a year for renewing adult members, was given an allocation of 3,000 tickets for the match at the 80,824 Azteca, which cannot be increased.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
“It’s Mr. Beiderman, and he’s not evicting us. He’s not renewing our lease,” Mama said.
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
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.
