Definitions

relinquish

[ri-ling-kwish] / rɪˈlɪŋ kwɪʃ /

VERB

give up, let go

Synonyms

STRONGEST

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

STRONG

abnegate cast desert discard ditch drop dump forbear forsake forswear kick leave release repudiate resign sacrifice shed

WEAK

back down cast off cut loose drop like hot potato kiss good-bye lay aside opt out quit cold turkey retire from stand down swear off take the oath take the pledge

Antonyms

STRONGEST

allow assert claim continue defend fight hold keep remain retain stay win

STRONG

gather maintain revert take up

WEAK

take

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Relinquish the world of the living for “dusty, drowsy” seminar rooms, where students drift around in suspended animation and professors hubristically trash all of Hamlet’s best lines?

From Slate • Dec. 29, 2012

Relinquish control of your technology infrastructure—you don't need it anymore.

From BusinessWeek • Mar. 3, 2011

Relinquish, rē-ling′kwish, v.t. to abandon: to give up: to renounce a claim to.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

Relinquish their duty before a blow had been struck?

From The Slowcoach by Lucas, E. V. (Edward Verrall)

Relinquish my right over the principal doer of the evil, and receive the unsupported pledge of a subordinate's word!

From The Water-Witch or, the Skimmer of the Seas by Cooper, James Fenimore

Vocabulary lists containing relinquish

The Declaration of Independence

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The Giver

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Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 4

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