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.

SpaceX paid Tuttle Capital Management to relinquish the ticker symbol “SPCX” ahead of the Elon Musk company’s highly anticipated IPO, MarketWatch has learned.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026

And it permits genetic donors to formally relinquish all parental rights over “the resulting children.”

From Slate • May 13, 2026

“It seems inconceivable to me that we would voluntarily relinquish the leadership that has propelled our country, fueled the economy, made us healthier, and made us safer,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

He warned that if Iran refused to relinquish its control of these international waters it would set a "dangerous precedent" for other strategic waterways in the world.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

We stood on the bank of the Kwenge listing the things we’ll have to abandon or relinquish.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Vocabulary lists containing relinquish

The Declaration of Independence

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

The Giver

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 4

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!