relinquish Hear it!

relinquish Definition

re·lin·quish (ri liŋkwis̸h)

transitive verb

  1. to give up; abandon (a plan, policy, etc.)
  2. to renounce or surrender (something owned, a right, etc.)
  3. to let go (a grasp, hold, etc.)

Etymology: LME relinquissen < extended stem of OFr relinquir < L relinquere < re-, from + linquere, to leave: see loan

relinquish Related Forms

re·lin·quish·ment noun

relinquish Synonyms

relinquish

v.

renounce, surrender, give up; see abandon 1, waive. See syn. study at waive.

relinquish Usage Examples

Object

  • ownership: Once on shared paper, does Chopin relinquish ownership?
  • control: No state will relinquish any control over their military.
  • responsibility: In effect they relinquish responsibilities for preservation of heritage within the local area.
  • possession: Leeds, by contrast, relinquished possession far too easily.
  • command: I feel that I relinquish a command of which any man may be proud.
  • post: He relinquished the post to the incoming governor on 11 July 2004.

Used with why or when

  • what: Young people may feel and need to show their sadness and to relinquish what can be a façade of stoicism when they are ill.
  • when: But that autumn, Hilda Annersley arrived, to take over the English teaching Madge Bettany had relinquished when she got married.
  • whatever: Alex parted his hands, slowly, relinquishing whatever was left.

Modifying Another Word

  • voluntarily: The developer might voluntarily relinquish all or part of the planning consent in recognition of the value of the site for nature conservation.
  • reluctantly: Republic of Ireland ( pictured right ), who reluctantly relinquished their title to England last year are back with a vastly experienced squad.
  • willingly: Now I willingly relinquish the crown " she added, naively, " May I not go home?
  • finally: Russia finally relinquished control of the nuclear reactor facilities in September 1995.
  • never: King added an easy penalty in the 20th minute to allow Wasps to take the lead, a lead they would never relinquish.
  • easily: These achievements, once gained, are not easily relinquished.

Preposition: in

favor: Yes, the next of kin can relinquish in favor of you providing that there are no objections from other surviving relatives.

Browse dictionary entries near relinquish

  1. reline
  2. Religious Society of Friends
  3. religious
  4. religiosity
  5. religionism
  6. religion
  7. religio-
  8. relight
  9. relig
  10. relievo
  1. relinquishment
  2. reliquary
  3. relique
  4. reliquiae
  5. relish
  6. relive
  7. relleno
  8. relocate
  9. relucent
  10. reluct