Relinquish Meaning
/ɹɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo give up, abandon or retire from something; to trade away.
verbTo let go (free, away), physically release.
Sentence Examples
I would rather die than relinquish my virginity before marriage.
They will never relinquish power willingly.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The CEO was forced to ____ control of the company after the scandal.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The general refused to ____ control of the city despite mounting pressure from the opposing forces.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Italic *wre- Latin re- Proto-Indo-European *leykʷ- Proto-Indo-European *-né- Proto-Indo-European *linékʷti Proto-Italic *linkʷō Latin linquō Latin relinquō Old French relenquir Middle French relinquirbor. Middle English relinquisshen English relinquish From Middle English relinquisshen, from the inflected stem relinquiss- of Middle French relinquir, from Latin relinquere, itself from re- + linquere (“to leave”). Compare also Sanskrit रिणक्ति (riṇakti, “to leave”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"With this issue Mr. W. A. Willox regretfully relinquishes the editorship of THE RAILWAY MAGAZINE"
— 1942 February, Railway Magazine, page 62:
"But it was the most fleeting of false dawns. Dmitri Yachvilli slotted a penalty from distance after Flood failed to release his man on the deck, and France took a grip they would never relinquish."
— 2011, Tom Fordyce, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 12-19 France”, in BBC Sport:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The CEO was forced to ____ control of the company after the scandal.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The general refused to ____ control of the city despite mounting pressure from the opposing forces.