Meaning & use
renew
Last updated
Meanings
verbtransitive
To extend the time during which a document, agreement or subscription is valid.
Grammar: Takes an object: renew a passport.
Patterns
- renew something
- renew something for a year
I need to renew my driver's license next month.
The library lets you renew a book online.
They renewed the lease for another year.
verbtransitive
To begin or do something again with fresh energy after a break.
Grammar: Used with ideas like effort and hope: renew efforts.
Patterns
- renew your efforts
- renew an attack
The two countries renewed talks after a long pause.
She renewed her promise to visit more often.
The team renewed its efforts to find a cure.
verbtransitive
To replace something old or worn out with something fresh.
Grammar: Often used for supplies and parts.
Patterns
- renew something
The council will renew the old water pipes.
Skin renews itself every few weeks.
Word forms
| third person singular | renews |
|---|---|
| past tense | renewed |
| past participle | renewed |
| -ing form | renewing |
Common combinations
- renew a contract
- The club renewed his contract for two seasons.
- renew a subscription
- I forgot to renew my subscription.
- renew your passport
- You must renew your passport before you travel.
- renew efforts
- Officials renewed efforts to reach a deal.
- renew interest
- The film renewed interest in the old book.
Synonyms and how they differ
- extend
- Extend means making something last longer, while renew often implies a formal new term starting.
- restore
- Restore means to bring something back to a former good state, while renew can mean starting afresh.
- resume
- Resume means continuing after a pause, but renew often adds new energy or a new period.
- refresh
- Refresh means to make something feel new or more up to date, which is lighter than renew.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: renew or renovate?
renew vs renovate
Renovate means to repair and improve a building, while renew is broader and also covers contracts and hopes.
Practice
My gym membership expires next week, so I need to ___ it.
Choose one answer.
You renew a membership to extend it. Renovate is for buildings, revise is for texts, and reveal means to show.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “renew”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.