relinquish

[ri-ling-kwish]

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.

relinquish

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of relinquish¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of relinquish¹

C15: from French relinquir , from Latin relinquere to leave behind, from _re- + linquere to leave

Synonym Study

See abandon.

Example Sentences

But he went on to stress that Russia would not relinquish the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine his troops have seized.

From BBC

Chansiri parted with a decade ago would now be worth about £52m, still only around half of what he seems to be demanding to relinquish control now.

From BBC

There is no law that would require D.C. law enforcement to relinquish their “personnel authority to a federal official,” she said.

From Salon

The 3,500 cockfighting birds found throughout the course of the investigation were relinquished to animal care services and euthanized, said Francis Delapaz, spokesperson for the county Department of Public Health.

From Los Angeles Times

Cato, a think tank co-founded by Charles Koch, has never relinquished its quest to privatize Social Security; the notion still occupies pride of place on the institution’s web page devoted to the program.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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