# renege on

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/renege-on
Updated: 2026-07-27

## Definition

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

For teachers: to fail to fulfil a promise, commitment, or contractual obligation.

## Examples

- The company decided to renege on the deal at the last minute.
- After signing the initial agreement, the landlord tried to renege on the promise to renovate the kitchen before we moved in.
- Political candidates often face intense scrutiny if they renege on key campaign pledges once they assume office, as voters expect consistency in policy implementation.

## Pitfalls

- Not "renege the deal" but "renege on the deal" — The verb is intransitive and requires the preposition 'on' to connect to the object.

## Usage notes

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.