Definition

1. Verb:
   • To fail to fulfill a promise, commitment, or obligation.
   • To go back on one's word; to break a promise or agreement.

Usage

The verb "renege" is used to describe the act of not doing what one has previously promised or agreed to do. It often implies a betrayal of trust or a failure to honor a commitment. It is typically followed by the preposition "on" when specifying the promise or agreement.

Examples

• Verb:
  • The company reneged on its contract to provide the materials.
  • He promised to help, but he reneged at the last minute.
  • You can't trust someone who constantly reneges on their promises.

Advanced Usage

• "to renege on a deal/promise/agreement/contract": This is the most common construction, specifying what was broken.
  • After shaking hands, it is considered very dishonorable to renege on a deal.

Variants and Related Words

• Renegement (n, rare): The act of reneging.
• Reneger (n): A person who reneges.

Synonyms

• Go back on: To fail to keep a promise.
• Break: To fail to observe a law, promise, or agreement.
• Back out (of): To withdraw from a commitment.
• Default on: To fail to fulfill an obligation, especially a financial one.

Phrasal Verbs

• Reneging is not typically used with particles to form phrasal verbs. The standard construction is "renege on."

Related Idioms

• "To go back on one's word": This idiom is a direct synonym for "renege."
  • He said he would support us, but he went back on his word.

Noun

1. the mistake of not following suit when able to do so

Verb

1. fail to fulfill a promise or obligation
   • She backed out of her promise