ENGLISH
REFERENCE

renege on

phrasal verb.
Definition

phrasal verb. to break a promise or fail to do what you previously agreed to do.

phrasal verb. to fail to fulfil a promise, commitment, or contractual obligation.


SIMPLE

The company decided to renege on the deal at the last minute.

CONTEXTUAL

After signing the initial agreement, the landlord tried to renege on the promise to renovate the kitchen before we moved in.

COMPLEX

Political candidates often face intense scrutiny if they renege on key campaign pledges once they assume office, as voters expect consistency in policy implementation.

Usage

The phrasal verb is transitive and always takes a direct object introduced by the preposition 'on'.

Pitfall

renege the dealrenege on the dealThe verb is intransitive and requires the preposition 'on' to connect to the object.

Last updated July 27, 2026