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to relinquish

to relinquish

69 7.2
To give up control, a right, or something you own
  • verb
  • /rɪˈlɪŋkwɪʃ/
  • Formal
translation icon : renunciar a
  • Please relinquish your claim to the property so it can be sold.
  • relinquish control
  • relinquish power
  • relinquish authority

We women are taught to relinquish our inner voice.

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Examples

  • I'd like you to voluntarily relinquish your position as foreman and let me take over, okay?

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Parents were persuaded to relinquish their children by arguments that new medical treatments promised a cure.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Like these people will not relinquish their power.

  • I need you to relinquish your weapons.

  • We women are taught to relinquish our inner voice.

  • As you see, your government has instructed you to relinquish the patient and all relevant files to our custody.

  • He has agreed to relinquish the property into your care.

  • The mining companies are still reluctant to relinquish their tight control over worker housing.

    Academic text (1992)
  • They asked me to relinquish my jacket.

  • I think over the last decade or so, men have started to relinquish their masculinity.

Synonyms

to let go
vsto relinquish
1.4

To stop holding something or someone so they are free

is about a voluntary act rather than a formal transfer of rights
to surrender
vsto relinquish
722 4.4

To stop fighting and give control or things to someone else, often when forced

is a voluntary action rather than one caused by force or coercion
to quit
vsto relinquish
668 1.0

To stop doing a habit or activity like smoking

is mainly about ending actions rather than losing rights or possessions
to give up
vsto relinquish
363 2.3

To hand a job or control you have to someone else

is an explicitly voluntary act rather than sometimes forced
to let go of
vsto relinquish
356 1.9

To stop holding something so it is not in your hand

is mainly a physical action while the key focuses on legal or voluntary transfer
to hand over
vsto relinquish
296 2.8

Give something to someone because you have to

is primarily a voluntary act rather than one done because required
to turn in
vsto relinquish
291 3.3

To give a person or thing to the police

is an act done voluntarily to transfer rights, not only to follow authority
to waive
vsto relinquish
  • Formal
107 6.6

Choose not to use a right or to charge a fee

is a voluntary refusal to use a right rather than forced
to yield
vsto relinquish
81 4.3

To stop resisting under pressure or force

is a voluntary act rather than one caused by pressure or force
to release
vsto relinquish
  • Formal
69 2.6

To give up a right, claim, or ownership of something

is an explicitly voluntary act rather than possibly forced
to renounce
vsto relinquish
  • Formal
69 6.3

To give up a right, belief, job, or position officially

is a formal public act rather than an informal private decision
to part with
vsto relinquish
42 4.1

To give something you value to someone else, often reluctantly

is a voluntary transfer rather than an act forced by others
to cede
vsto relinquish
  • Formal
39 8.2

To officially give control, ownership or rights to someone else

is a formal loss of control focused on territory or political authority
to forsake
vsto relinquish
38 6.9

To leave someone who needs your help

implies neglect or cruelty, unlike the key which describes voluntary transfer
to forgo
vsto relinquish
30 6.3

Decide not to have or do something you want

is an intentional personal decision, not a compelled loss
to forego
vsto relinquish
24 6.3

To choose not to have or do something

is a voluntary choice to abstain rather than a forced removal
to abdicate
vsto relinquish
  • Formal
23 8.0

To give up a position of power, for example a king or queen

is limited to high office or leadership rather than any position
to capitulate
vsto relinquish
23 8.4

To stop fighting back and accept defeat or demands

is a voluntary act rather than a negotiated submission made after pressure
to resign
vsto relinquish
  • Formal
22 3.7

Give up a right or title to something

is an explicitly voluntary act, not one done because of pressure
to concede
vsto relinquish
13 5.5

To give something to another person or group against your will

is done willingly rather than under pressure or force
to sign away
vsto relinquish
11 4.8

Give up rights or property by agreeing to it in writing

is a voluntary act performed through a formal legal procedure
to yield up
vsto relinquish
1 7.4

Give something to another person because you are forced to do so

is a voluntary decision rather than an action taken under compulsion
to foreswear
vsto relinquish
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To publicly promise to give up a belief, habit, or claim

is focused on beliefs or habits rather than possessions or rights
to abnegate
vsto relinquish
  • Formal
9.9

To officially give up power, rights, or a position

is a formal type of loss of rights rather than an everyday choice
to resile
vsto relinquish
  • Formal
9.9

To withdraw from a promise or agreement, often officially under pressure

is a voluntary abandonment rather than one imposed by outside pressure

Antonyms

236 3.4

To keep having something such as a job or possession

How Complete

to surrender
722 4.4
to renounce
  • Formal
69 6.3
to relinquish
  • Formal
69 7.2
to give up
1.2
to let go
1.4

Surface Forms

relinquish infinitive
relinquished past participle
relinquishing present participle
relinquishes third person singular

Etymology

The word relinquish comes from the Latin relinquere, from re- 'back' and linquere 'to leave', so it originally meant 'to leave behind'. That's why to relinquish something now means to give it up or let it go.