Renounce Meaning
/ɹɪˈnaʊns/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounAn act of renouncing.
verbTo give up, resign, surrender.
Sentence Examples
She wanted to renounce her U.S. citizenship.
I renounce everything as long as I can be with you.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The prince announced he would ____ his family title to avoid public scrutiny.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The king chose to ____ his throne rather than sign the controversial decree demanded by parliament.
Word Origin & History
From Old French renoncier (French renoncer), from Latin renūntiō. Doublet of renunciate.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"It is terrible to think of the power of the world even in a redeemed soul. Here was a maid who had drunk of the well of grace and tasted of God's mercies, and yet there were moments when she was ready to renounce her hope."
— 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:
"This world I do renounce, and in your sights
Shake patiently my great affliction off."
— c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi]:
"[…] some families renounced the use of a certain praenomen which had been disgraced by one of their name […]"
— 1945, E[lizabeth] G[idley] Withycombe, “Introduction”, in The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page xv:
"His son Sidhartha had renounced material life and gone forth in search of enlightment. He received enlightment under a Bodhi tree at Gaya and became Buddha. Ashoka visited Gaya along with Upagupta and had darshan of Sambodhi."
— 2012 May 18, Sri B. G. Ramesh, translated by Sri M. N. Suresh Kumar, Ashoka, Bangalore: Sapna Book House (P) Ltd., →ISBN, page 14:
"Time is running out, so I renounce a spin on a Class 387 for a fast run to Paddington on another Class 800 - a shame as the weather was perfect for pictures. Even so, it's enjoyable - boy, can those trains shift under the wires."
— 2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 68:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The prince announced he would ____ his family title to avoid public scrutiny.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The king chose to ____ his throne rather than sign the controversial decree demanded by parliament.