Relinquish Definition & Meaning

  • American
  • British
  • Related Words
  • Other Word Forms
  • Etymology
  • Examples
  • Related Words
  • Synonyms relinquish American [ri-ling-kwish] / rɪˈlɪŋ kwɪʃ /

    verb (used with object)

    1. to renounce or surrender (a possession, right, etc.).

      to relinquish the throne.

    2. to give up; put aside or desist from.

      to relinquish a plan.

      Synonyms: resign, desert, forswear, quit, leave, abdicate, forego, waive, cede, yield
    3. to let go; release.

      to relinquish one's hold.

    relinquish British / rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ /

    verb

    1. to give up (a task, struggle, etc); abandon

    2. to surrender or renounce (a claim, right, etc)

    3. to release; let go

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

    Related Words

    See abandon.

    Other Word Forms

    • nonrelinquishment noun
    • relinquisher noun
    • relinquishment noun
    • unrelinquished adjective
    • unrelinquishing adjective

    Etymology

    Origin of relinquish

    First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English relinquissen, relinquisshen, from Middle French relinquiss-, long stem of relinquir ≪ Latin relinquere “to leave behind,” equivalent to re- re- + linquere “to leave” (akin to lend )

    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.

    After captaining Young England, he then became Glamorgan's youngest skipper in 1986 before relinquishing the role three years later to concentrate on his batting.

    From BBC

    In 2020, Lewis relinquished his longtime role as the House’s election policy point man after pleading guilty to charges related to using campaign funds for personal expenses, including rent.

    From Salon

    Congress passed, and the Supreme Court unanimously upheld, a law requiring the app’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to divest and relinquish operational control of the U.S. business or be banned.

    From The Wall Street Journal

    Elections followed, but the voluntary relinquishing of power had emboldened the military to make a takeover by force in 1962.

    From Barron's

    Head's match-winning century was one of the great Ashes moments and gave Australia momentum they have not relinquished.

    From BBC

    Related Words

    • abandon
    • abdicate
    • cede
    • drop out
    • forgo
    • hand over
    • quit
    • renounce
    • surrender
    • vacate
    • waive
    • withdraw
    • yield

    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.

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