relinquish

American  

[ri-ling-kwish] / rɪˈlɪŋ kwɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to renounce or surrender (a possession, right, etc.).

   to relinquish the throne.

2. to give up; put aside or desist from.

   to relinquish a plan.

   Synonyms:

   resign, desert, forswear, quit, leave, abdicate, forego, waive, cede, yield

3. to let go; release.

   to relinquish one's hold.

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relinquish British  

/ rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ /

verb

1. to give up (a task, struggle, etc); abandon

2. to surrender or renounce (a claim, right, etc)

3. to release; let go

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Related Words

See abandon.

Other Word Forms

• nonrelinquishment noun
• relinquisher noun
• relinquishment noun
• unrelinquished adjective
• unrelinquishing adjective

Etymology

Origin of relinquish

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English relinquissen, relinquisshen, from Middle French relinquiss-, long stem of relinquir ≪ Latin relinquere “to leave behind,” equivalent to re- re- + linquere “to leave” (akin to lend )

Example Sentences

Stokes said he had no thoughts of relinquishing the captaincy, replying "absolutely" when asked if he was keen to carry on.

From Barron's

In August, Spirit filed for bankruptcy protection and has slashed routes, relinquished gates to legacy airlines, and furloughed more than 2,000 pilots and flight attendants.

From The Wall Street Journal

In its 2024 presidential election, the incumbent lost and peacefully relinquished power.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Rather, at worst, a rising list of troubling indicators could be suggesting that tech stocks may soon relinquish their long-time leadership position.”

From MarketWatch

After captaining Young England, he then became Glamorgan's youngest skipper in 1986 before relinquishing the role three years later to concentrate on his batting.

From BBC

Related Words

• abandon
• abdicate
• cede
• drop out
• forgo
• hand over
• quit
• renounce
• surrender
• vacate
• waive
• withdraw
• yield