Word
relinquish
Phoneticsre·lin·quish, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹiˈɫɪŋkwɪʃ/
UK/ɹɪlˈɪnkwɪʃ/
Definitions
01to give up control or power
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to give up a position of power, a right, or a responsibility.
v. to surrender or yield control, authority, or a legal right, often formally.
“The king was forced to relinquish his throne after the revolution.”
“The outgoing CEO agreed to relinquish his seat on the board to ensure a smooth transition for the new leadership team.”
02to let go of an object
C1 · Advanced Literary · Formal
v. to physically let go of something you are holding.
v. to physically release one's grip or possession of a tangible object.
Español:soltar
“She slowly relinquished her grip on the steering wheel as the car stopped.”
“The child reluctantly relinquished the toy only after his mother promised they would return to the shop the following day.”
03to stop having a feeling or idea
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to stop holding onto a hope, a plan, or a belief.
v. to abandon or cease to maintain a particular habit, belief, or emotional state.
“He found it difficult to relinquish the hope that his cat would return.”
“The researchers had to relinquish their original hypothesis when the data consistently pointed toward a different conclusion.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object; often used in formal or legal contexts regarding rights or property.
Real-World Examples
“To relinquish that control now would be, I think, hard for me.”
Knowing when and how to ask for help is one of the lessons that Jamie must learn in the film.” “I ended up begging on the Trocadéro.” He didn’t relinquish his literary dreams so much as let them wilt.” Etymology
From Middle English relinquisshen, from the inflected stem relinquiss- of Middle French relinquir, from Latin relinquere, itself from re- + linquere (“to leave”). Compare also Sanskrit रिणक्ति (riṇakti, “to leave”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/relinquish
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0