English

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Etymology

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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).

Pronunciation

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Verb

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renew (third-person singular simple present renews, present participle renewing, simple past and past participle renewed)

  1. (transitive) To make (something) new again; to restore to freshness or original condition. [from 14thc.]
  2. (transitive) To replace (something which has broken etc.); to replenish (something which has been exhausted), to keep up a required supply of. [from 14thc.]
  3. (theology) To make new spiritually; to regenerate. [from 14thc.]
  4. (now rare, intransitive) To become new, or as new; to revive. [15th–18thc.]
    • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: [], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: [] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:
      , II.2.6.ii:
      [] to such as are in fear they strike a great impression, renew many times, and recal such chimeras and terrible fictions into their minds.
    • 1997 July, “Seeking Christian interiority: An interview with Louis Dupre”, in Christian Century, volume 114, number 21, page 654:
      But Christianity was a new religious force in Augustine's day. Today, as you say, its power to integrate culture has all but disappeared. Does Christianity still have the capacity to renew?
    • 2010 September, Michael Allen, "St. Louis Preservation Fund", St. Louis magazine, ISSN 1090-5723, Vol.16, Is.9, p.74:
      Renewing neighborhoods dealing with vacant buildings badly need options other than demolition or dangerous vacant spaces.
  5. (transitive) To begin again; to recommence. [from 16thc.]
    This murder has been a cold case for decades until last year when the new sheriff renewed the investigation.
  6. (rare) To repeat. [from 17thc.]
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. [], London: [] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker []; [a]nd by Robert Boulter []; [a]nd Matthias Walker, [], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: [], London: Basil Montagu Pickering [], 1873, →OCLC:
      The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds
      Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings.
  7. (transitive, intransitive) To extend a period of loan, especially a library book that is due to be returned.
    I'd like to renew these three books.  Did you know that you can renew online?

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Noun

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renew (plural renews)

  1. Synonym of renewal

Derived terms

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Anagrams

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