renounce
gb/ɹɪnˈaʊns/ us/ɹɪnˈaʊns/
C1
English
~ 8200
lemond, elhatárolódik valamitől, megtagad, kitagad, megszakít minden kapcsolatot valakivel
VERB
C1
FORMAL
1
lemond
B1
Usage pattern:
to renounce [a right/claim/title/citizenship]
Under pressure from the government, he agreed to renounce his citizenship.
A kormány nyomására beleegyezett, hogy lemond az állampolgárságáról.
The prince formally renounced his claim to the throne in a televised speech.
A herceg egy televíziós beszédben hivatalosan lemondott a trónigényéről.
By signing this contract, you renounce any right to future compensation.
She renounced ownership of the property and transferred it to the charity.
The company asked him to renounce any claim to intellectual property he developed while employed there.
Learner examples
He decided to renounce his U.S. citizenship.
Úgy döntött, hogy lemond az amerikai állampolgárságáról.
The king renounced the throne and left the country.
A király lemondott a trónról, és elhagyta az országot.
She renounced her claim to the money.
He renounced his rights to the house.
They renounced all claim to the land.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "renounce" with "denounce". "Renounce" means to formally give up a right or claim. "Denounce" means to strongly criticize or accuse something or someone in public. For example, you renounce your citizenship, but you denounce corruption.
Meaning
formally give up a right
Collocations
renounce citizenship
|renounce your claim
|renounce the throne
|renounce his right
|renounce ownership
Synonyms
give up (More general and less formal; does not always imply a legal or official step.)
|
waive (Common in legal or contractual language when choosing not to use a right.)
|
abdicate (Used especially for giving up a position of power, such as a king or leader.)
Antonyms
claim (Means to state that something is yours by right, the opposite of giving up that right.)
|
retain (Means to keep a right or position instead of giving it up.)
Themes
law
|politics
|work
Definition
To say in an official way that you no longer want or have a right, title, claim, job, or citizenship.
To formally or officially give up a right, title, claim, position, or citizenship, so that you no longer have it.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
to renounce [a belief/practice/policy]
The rebel group agreed to renounce violence as part of the peace deal.
A lázadó csoport beleegyezett, hogy a békemegállapodás részeként lemond az erőszakról.
He publicly renounced his earlier comments and apologized.
Nyilvánosan visszavonta korábbi kijelentéseit, és bocsánatot kért.
After years in the movement, she renounced its extremist ideology.
The party has never renounced its support for the controversial policy.
Under international pressure, the government was forced to renounce its nuclear ambitions.
Learner examples
The group said they would renounce violence.
A csoport azt mondta, hogy lemond az erőszakról.
He renounced his old political beliefs.
Megtagadta régi politikai nézeteit.
She renounced her faith and left the church.
The country renounced its plans for war.
They refused to renounce their racist ideas.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "renounce" when "quit" or "stop" is more natural in everyday speech (e.g., "renounce smoking"). "Renounce" usually suggests a formal or public rejection of a belief, policy, or practice, not just a private decision to stop a habit.
Meaning
publicly reject a belief or practice
Collocations
renounce violence
|renounce terrorism
|renounce their beliefs
|renounce war
|renounce your faith
Synonyms
reject (General term; less formal and not always public or official.)
|
repudiate (Very formal; stresses strong refusal to accept or be connected with something.)
|
abandon (Focuses on stopping a belief or practice, but less about a formal or public statement.)
Antonyms
embrace (Means to willingly accept or support an idea or practice that you previously did not follow.)
|
uphold (Means to continue to support a belief, policy, or principle.)
Themes
politics
|society
|values
|communication
Definition
To say in public that you no longer agree with or follow an idea, belief, or way of acting.
To state publicly and firmly that you no longer support, accept, or follow a particular idea, belief, policy, or practice.
VERB
C2
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
to renounce [someone] / to renounce [all ties with someone]
After the scandal, his parents publicly renounced him.
A botrány után a szülei nyilvánosan kitagadták.
He renounced all ties with his former business partners.
Megszakított minden kapcsolatot korábbi üzlettársaival.
The noble family threatened to renounce their daughter if she married him.
She was renounced by her relatives when she refused to follow tradition.
He renounced his own brother in front of the court.
Learner examples
His father renounced him after the crime.
Az apja a bűncselekmény után kitagadta.
She renounced her family and left home.
Megszakította a kapcsolatot a családjával, és elment otthonról.
They renounced all ties with their former friend.
The king renounced his brother before the people.
Her parents said they would renounce her if she married him.
Common mistake:
Learners may use "renounce" for everyday family arguments. It is very strong and formal, and usually used in serious or dramatic situations, often in writing or formal speech, not for normal disagreements.
Meaning
formally disown a person
Collocations
renounce his son
|renounce her family
|renounce all ties with
|renounce his former associates
Synonyms
disown (More common in everyday English; clearly about denying a family or close relationship.)
|
cast off (Literary or expressive; suggests rejecting someone you were once close to.)
Antonyms
acknowledge (To accept and openly recognize a relationship, the opposite of denying it.)
|
reconcile with (To restore a relationship instead of cutting it off.)
Themes
family
|relationships
|values
|law
Definition
To say in a serious and public way that someone, often a family member, is no longer connected to you.
To formally or publicly state that you no longer have a relationship with someone, especially a family member, and do not accept responsibility for them.
VERB
C2
FORMAL
4
megtagad
C1
Usage pattern:
to renounce [the devil/sin/the world]
In the ceremony, the priest asked if they renounced the devil and all his works.
A szertartáson a pap megkérdezte, hogy megtagadják-e az ördögöt és minden cselekedetét.
Monks take vows to renounce the world and live in poverty.
A szerzetesek fogadalmat tesznek, hogy megtagadják a világi életet, és szegénységben élnek.
She felt called to renounce worldly pleasures and devote herself to prayer.
During baptism, many traditions include promises to renounce sin.
Learner examples
At baptism, they promise to renounce the devil.
A kereszteléskor megígérik, hogy megtagadják az ördögöt.
The monk renounced the world and lived in a small room.
A szerzetes megtagadta a világi életet, és egy kis szobában élt.
She decided to renounce sin and follow her faith.
He wanted to renounce worldly pleasures and live a simple life.
Meaning
religiously reject sin or the world
Collocations
renounce the devil
|renounce sin
|renounce the world
|renounce worldly pleasures
Synonyms
forsake (Religious or literary; means to give up or leave completely, often for God or higher values.)
|
abjure (Very formal and rare; used in religious or solemn oaths to reject beliefs or practices.)
Antonyms
embrace (In this context, to willingly accept worldly life or sinful behavior instead of rejecting it.)
Themes
religion
|values
Definition
In religious speech, to say in a serious and official way that you reject Satan, sin, or normal worldly life.
In religious contexts, to solemnly declare that you reject Satan, sin, or attachment to the ordinary world and its pleasures.
Grammar
Dictionary form
renounce
IPA
GB/ɹɪnˈaʊns/
US/ɹɪnˈaʊns/
Syllables & stress
re - nounce (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (nounce)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: renounce
- 3rd Person Singular: renounces
- Present Participle: renouncing
- Past: renounced
Word family
Forms
renounces
verb
renouncing
verb
renounced
verb
Core family
renunciation
noun
Related words
renouncement
noun
Expressions
renounce a claim
1/ɹɪnˈaʊns ə klˈeɪm/
fixed phrase
formal
formally give up a claim
To officially say that you no longer want or will use your legal right to money, land, or something else.
Examples
- She agreed to renounce any claim to her ex-husband’s estate.
- By signing, you renounce a claim to future royalties.
renounce terrorism
1/ɹɪnˈaʊns tˈɛɹɚˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
formal
publicly reject terrorism
To say in a clear public way that you will not use or support terrorism.
Examples
- The group was removed from the blacklist only after it renounced terrorism.
- International leaders demanded that the militia renounce terrorism immediately.
renounce the throne
1/ɹɪnˈaʊns ðə θɹˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
formal
formally give up a throne
To officially stop being king or queen and give up the right to rule.
Examples
- Under intense public pressure, the monarch decided to renounce the throne.
- He renounced the throne to marry the woman he loved.
renounce the world
1/ɹɪnˈaʊns ðə wˈɚld/
fixed phrase
literary
give up worldly life
To leave normal life in society and its pleasures in order to live a very religious or simple life.
Examples
- He decided to renounce the world and enter a monastery.
- In the story, the hero renounces the world to seek wisdom in the mountains.
renounce violence
1/ɹɪnˈaʊns vˈaɪələns/
fixed phrase
formal
publicly reject the use of violence
To say in public that you will not use violence anymore.
Examples
- The organization agreed to renounce violence and join the peace talks.
- Leaders urged the protesters to renounce violence and demonstrate peacefully.
renounce worldly pleasures
1/ɹɪnˈaʊns wˈɚldli plˈɛʒɚz/
fixed phrase
formal
give up material pleasures
To choose not to enjoy money, comfort, or fun things because of your religious or moral beliefs.
Examples
- The spiritual leader urged his followers to renounce worldly pleasures.
- She renounced worldly pleasures and lived a very simple life.
renounce your faith
1/ɹɪnˈaʊns jˈʊɹ fˈeɪθ/
fixed phrase
formal
publicly reject your religion
To say in a serious and open way that you no longer follow your religion.
Examples
- He refused to renounce his faith, even under threat.
- Many were forced to renounce their faith during the regime.
renounce citizenship
1/ɹɪnˈaʊns sˈɪtɪzənʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
formal
formally give up citizenship
To officially say you are no longer a citizen of a country.
Examples
- He chose to renounce citizenship in his home country after moving abroad permanently.
- Applicants must renounce citizenship of any other state before taking the oath.
renounce citizenship
2/ɹɪnˈaʊns sˈɪtɪzənʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
formally give up citizenship
To officially say that you do not want to be a citizen of a country anymore.
Examples
- He chose to renounce his citizenship for tax reasons.
- People must visit the embassy if they want to renounce citizenship.