renew
- 01 B1 Intermediate
to make an agreement, like a passport or a library book, last for a longer time.
to extend the period of validity of a contract, license, or loan agreement.
Simple“I need to go to the library to renew my books for another two weeks.”
In context“The tenant expressed a desire to renew the lease for another year, provided the landlord agreed to keep the rent at the current rate.”
UsageOften used with objects like 'passport', 'subscription', 'lease', or 'membership'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to begin an activity again after a break.
to resume or recommence an activity or relationship after an interruption.
Simple“The two countries decided to renew their trade talks after the summer break.”
In context“After a decade of silence, the estranged brothers decided to renew their relationship following their father's funeral.”
UsageCommonly collocates with 'efforts', 'interest', 'vows', or 'friendship'.
Antonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
to make something look or feel new again by repairing or replacing parts.
to restore something to its original state or to replace exhausted supplies.
Simple“The spring rain helped to renew the dry garden and make it green again.”
In context“The body has a remarkable ability to renew its own cells, though this process slows down significantly as we age.”
Usage renew his contract · renewed calls · renewed scrutiny
“Dhaka also renewed its demands for India to extradite Hasina.”
“Speaking after a meeting of the government’s Cobra emergency committee, Burnham refused to say if the summer had made the case against renewed drilling in the North Sea, which his government is considering.”
From Middle English renewen, an alteration (possibly on analogy with Latin renovāre) of earlier anewen (“to renew”), from Old English nīewian (“to restore; renovate; renew”), equivalent to re- + new. Cognate with Old High German giniuwōn (“to renew”), Middle High German geniuwen (“to renew”), Old Norse nýja (“to renew”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.