RenounceTo formally give up or reject a claim, right, or connection. means to give up, reject, or formallyIn an official or proper way, not casually or informally. stop claimingAsserting that something belongs to you or is true. something. It is often used for titles, rights, duties, beliefs, relationships, or an official position.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /rɪˈnaʊns/
Easy pronunciation: ri-NOUNCE (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: nounce.
This is the verb meaning to formally give up a right, title, claim, or power.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Renounce Meaning
to officially give up something or refuse to keep it
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to give up or formally give up a right, title, claim, duty, or power
Example: The king renounced the throne and moved abroad.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- abdicate — Works well when the thing given up is a throne, crown, or other rule-related power.
- relinquish — A strong general synonym when someone gives up a right, claim, or possession.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Renounce
Meaning 2
to step down from a job or role
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to leave a job, post, or position voluntarily
Example: She renounced her post after the scandal.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- resign — A direct synonym for leaving a job or office voluntarily.
- vacate — Works in formal contexts for giving up a position, but is less common in everyday speech.
- give up — Possible in context, but less precise than resign.
Meaning 3
to reject someone or say you are no longer connected to them
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to cast off, disown, or reject a person or relationship
Example: She renounced her husband after years of abuse.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- disown — A natural fit when someone rejects a family member or close relation.
- repudiate — Works when formally rejecting a person, relationship, or claim.
Meaning 4
to stop doing, believing, or pursuing something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to turn away from something; to give up or forswear it
Example: He renounced violence and promised a peaceful life.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- foreswear — A formal synonym, especially for solemnly giving up a belief, habit, or action.
- quit — Works for stopping an activity, but is more informal and broader in meaning.
- relinquish — Can fit when something is being given up or let go.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Renounce Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- abdicate
- relinquish
leave a job or position voluntarily
- resign
- vacate
- give up
reject or disown a person or relationship
- disown
- repudiate
turn away from or stop doing something
- foreswear
- quit
- relinquish
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Don't confuse renounce with announce.
- Renounce is usually more formal than give up or quit.
- It does not usually mean simply to stop doing something unless the context is formal or serious.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does renounce mean in simple English?
Renounce means to formally give up, reject, or stop claiming something.
Is renounce the same as resign?
Sometimes, but only when it means leaving a job or position voluntarily. Resign is the clearer word for that sense.
What is a common synonym for renounce?
A common synonym is abdicate when the subject is a throne or formal power. In other contexts, relinquish or resign may fit better.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.