Definition

1. Verb:
   • To formally declare one's abandonment of a claim, right, or possession: To give something up voluntarily, especially by a formal statement.
   • To reject or disown something or someone completely: To refuse to follow, obey, or recognize any longer; to cast off.
   • To resign from a position or title: To give up a high office, duty, or obligation, often formally.

Usage

• Renounce is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (e.g., renounce a title, renounce violence).
• It is often used in formal, legal, or solemn contexts to indicate a definitive and public abandonment.
• Common collocations include: renounce citizenship, renounce a claim, renounce the throne, renounce one's beliefs.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "To renounce the world": To withdraw from secular life and its concerns, often for a religious or spiritual life.
  • After the tragedy, he chose to renounce the world and live as a hermit.
• In card games (e.g., Bridge): To fail to follow suit when one is able to; to revoke. (This is a specific, technical usage.)
  • He lost the trick because he renounced when he still had a card of the required suit.

Variants and Related Words

• Renunciation (noun): The formal act of renouncing.
  • His renunciation of violence was a key step in the peace process.
• Renouncer (noun): A person who renounces.

Synonyms

• Abdicate: To renounce a throne.
• Relinquish: To voluntarily cease to keep or claim.
• Forswear: To agree to give up or do without.
• Repudiate: To refuse to accept or be associated with.
• Resign: To give up an office or position.

Antonyms

• Claim: To assert one's right to.
• Assert: To state a fact or belief confidently.
• Embrace: To accept or support willingly and enthusiastically.
• Retain: To continue to have; keep possession of.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To renounce one's citizenship: To formally give up one's status as a citizen of a country.
  • She had to renounce her citizenship before becoming a citizen of the new country.
• To renounce the devil: In religious contexts, to formally reject evil or Satan.
  • As part of the baptismal vows, they were asked to renounce the devil and all his works.

Verb

1. cast off
   • She renounced her husband
   • The parents repudiated their son
2. turn away from; give up
   • I am foreswearing women forever
3. leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
   • She vacated the position when she got pregnant
   • The chairman resigned when he was found to have misappropriated funds
4. give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations
   • The King abdicated when he married a divorcee