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to renew

to renew

94 3.7
Start again after a pause, often a relationship or activity
  • verb
  • /rɪˈnuː/
translation icon : renovar
  • Today the United States renews our deep bond with Britain, military, financial, cultural and political.
  • renewed interest
  • renewed commitment
  • renewed emphasis

It's it's an opportunity to recall, reflect, and hopefully renew as well.

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Examples

  • We can renew our vows, babe.

  • Maybe it's time for you to renew your faith.

  • For, I have renewed life purpose in the form of a research project with which I need your help.

  • Years of effort are paying off in renewed hope for the species' survival.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Recently, the historical study of immigration law has received renewed interest from legal and immigration scholars alike.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The effect of their joining the alliance is felt in a renewed dedication to promoting and protecting democracy.

    Academic text (2008)
  • A media-literate public also calls for a renewed commitment of journalists to their established code of ethics.

    Academic text (2011)
  • In this article, we report one effort to evaluate the efficacy of a renewed teacher preparation program.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The recent transition in Iraq prompted a renewed state focus on deploying personnel.

    Academic text (2013)
  • After a long winter, the gardener was eager to renew the flower beds with fresh plants.

Synonyms

to restore
vsto renew
234 3.8

Make someone feel healthy and full of energy again

focuses on making things feel new or on starting them again
to revive
vsto renew
104 4.2

Make something active or popular again after a time of being forgotten

also includes making things feel new or starting them again, not only bringing back activity
to remake
vsto renew
52 3.5

To make something again in a new or better way

is broader, covering both making things new and restarting uses beyond simply doing it again
to refresh
vsto renew
50 2.8

Make someone or something feel full of energy and less tired

also covers starting something again after a pause rather than just improving feeling
to redo
vsto renew
47 2.1

Do something again to fix mistakes or make it better

also includes starting paused activities or making things feel fresh, not only repeating tasks
to revitalize
vsto renew
  • US
45 4.8

To give new life and energy to something

also includes starting something again after a pause, not only energizing it
to resurrect
vsto renew
42 6.8

Bring something back into use after it was forgotten

is more general, also meaning to make things feel new or restart recently paused items
to reestablish
vsto renew
37 4.3

To bring back something that stopped or was lost

is less about exact former state and more about making things feel new or restarting
to rekindle
vsto renew
33 5.1

Make a feeling or interest strong again

also applies to restarting non-emotional things or formal systems after pause
to reinvigorate
vsto renew
19 5.7

To give new energy and interest to a person or thing

also covers beginning something again after an interruption, not only adding energy
to reconstitute
vsto renew
18 7.0

Form something again after it has been destroyed or changed

focuses on general making new or restarting rather than structural remaking
to reignite
vsto renew
15 4.6

To make an interest, feeling, or activity start again after it stopped

is broader, also meaning to make something feel new rather than only restarting
to recreate
vsto renew
8 5.3

To make someone or something feel fresh and full of energy

also implies starting again after a pause, not only making it fresh
to relaunch
vsto renew
7 3.9

To start something again after it stops or after you change it

also covers simple refreshing or strengthening and restarting ordinary activities, not only launches
to rededicate
vsto renew
7 5.9

To start giving time and effort to something again with new commitment

is broader, applying to making things new or restarting, not only recommitting
to regenerate
vsto renew
6 5.5

Bring something back to a better or original state

is also used for simply making things feel new or restarting them after pause
to reinstitute
vsto renew
6 6.1

To start again a rule or practice that stopped

is broader, also including making things feel fresh or restarting objects beyond rules
to reengage
vsto renew
4 4.0

Begin being involved again after a break

is more general, also meaning to make things feel new not only rejoining activity
to reinitiate
vsto renew
1 5.9

To start a process or system again after it stopped

also covers making things feel new or restarting other kinds of activities, not only processes
to rejuvenate
vsto renew
  • Specialized
1 6.4

Make land or rivers look younger and have stronger water flow

is general for making many things new or restarting human activities, not only natural change
to refreshen
vsto renew
  • Archaic
4.3

To make something feel new and alive again

is broader, also covering restarting activities after a pause, not just freshening
to reinspire
vsto renew
5.6

To make someone feel excited and ready to try new things

also refers to making things themselves new or restarting activities, not only inspiring people
to restimulate
vsto renew
5.3

Make something active again, for example the economy or your interest

also covers making things feel new or restarting activities, not only causing excitement

Antonyms

197 3.7

Stop being valid after a fixed time, for example a passport or card

146 5.9

To get worse in quality, condition, or value

Phrasal Verbs

to renew your rego
  • Australian
8.5

Pay to keep a vehicle's registration valid each year

How Restorative

to rejuvenate
24 5.5
to renew
94 3.7
to refresh
50 2.8
to touch up
8 3.8

Surface Forms

renew infinitive
renewed past
renewed past participle
renewing present participle
renews third person singular

Morphology

renew = new (semi-transparent) = re + new

The core sense 'make new again' is clear from re- plus 'new', but the extension to resuming something after an interruption is not fully automatic for learners.

Etymology

Renew comes from the Latin parts re- 'again' and novus 'new', so it literally means 'make new again'. Think of two friends meeting after years apart and making their friendship feel 'new'—that's why to renew something is to make it fresh or start it again.