Dictionary

renege en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ɹɪˈniːɡ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ɹiː-/ (US)
• /ɹɪˈnɛɡ/ (US)
• (US) audio
• /ɹɪˈnɪɡ/ (US)
• /ɹɪˈneɪɡ/ (US)
• /ɹɪˈneɪɡ/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin renegō, from negō (“to deny”). Possibly influenced by renegotiate. Doublet of renay. See also renegade.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To break a promise or commitment; to go back on one's word.
   • Previously I promised not to proselytize miserism, but now I want to renege a little on that promise. If your family income is anywhere near average, you can scrimp and save and cut back for maybe two to four years […] 2010, Dolly Freed, Possum Living, page 149:
   • Clattenburg awarded Spurs a penalty for the third time after a handball in the area but he reneged after realising that the linesman had flagged Crouch offside in the build-up. 2011 February 5, Michael Kevin Darling, “Tottenham 2 - 1 Bolton”, in BBC:
2. (intransitive) To break one's commitment to follow suit when capable.
3. (archaic, transitive) To deny; to renounce
   • His captaines heart, / Which in the ſcuffles of great fights hath burſt / The Buckles on his breaſt, reneages all temper, / And is become the bellowes and the Fan / To coole a Gypſies Luſt. c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
   • All Europe high (all sorts of rights reneged) / Against the truth and thee unholy leagued. 1608, Josuah Sylvester, The Sepmaines of Du Bartas:

Forms

Antonyms

deliver

Deriveds

reneger

Relateds

renegade · negotiate · negative · renegation · négligée · negate · abnegate · neglect

Translations (60)

cs nesplnit (break a promise or commitment) · th ทำผิดสัญญา (break a promise or commitment) · ru изменя́ть своему́ сло́ву (break a promise or commitment) · pt renegar (deny, renounce) · ru отка́зываться (deny, renounce) · bg правя ривок (card games: fail to follow suit when capable) · nl verloochenen (deny, renounce) · cy torri addewid (break a promise or commitment) · ru измени́ть своему́ слову́ (break a promise or commitment) · pt renunciar (deny, renounce) · bg не изпълнявам обещание (break a promise or commitment) · cs nepřiznat barvu (card games: fail to follow suit when capable) · th ผิดสัญญา (break a promise or commitment) · de (sein) Wort brechen (break a promise or commitment) · it rimangiarsi la parola (break a promise or commitment) · grc ἀθετέω (break a promise or commitment) · es faltar a su palabra (break a promise or commitment) · sh прекр́шити рије̑ч (break a promise or commitment) · gl volverse atrás (break a promise or commitment) · ru сде́лать рено́нс (card games: fail to follow suit when capable) · cmn 食言 (break a promise or commitment) · pl zrzec się (deny, renounce) · cs porušit (break a promise or commitment) · de verleugnen (deny, renounce) · fi pettää (break a promise or commitment) · gl renunciar (card games: fail to follow suit when capable) · ru де́лать рено́нс (card games: fail to follow suit when capable) · pl łamać słowo (break a promise or commitment) · it tirarsi indietro (break a promise or commitment) · pt voltar atrás (break a promise or commitment) · pt rejeitar (deny, renounce) · sh отка́зати (deny, renounce) · sh prekŕšiti rijȇč (break a promise or commitment) · cy torri gair (break a promise or commitment) · sh otkázati (deny, renounce) · el αθετώ (break a promise or commitment) · es faltar a la palabra (break a promise or commitment) · it rinnegare (deny, renounce) · pl nie zagrać karty tego samego koloru (card games: fail to follow suit when capable) · pt faltar com a palavra (break a promise or commitment) · es renegar (deny, renounce) · it fare marcia indietro (break a promise or commitment) · nl afzweren (deny, renounce) · cs nedodržet (break a promise or commitment) · fa جا زدن (break a promise or commitment) · fi syödä sanansa (break a promise or commitment) · ko 파기하다 (break a promise or commitment) · pl złamać słowo (break a promise or commitment) · nl verzaken (card games: fail to follow suit when capable) · fi rikkoa lupaus (break a promise or commitment) · pl nie grać karty tego samego koloru (card games: fail to follow suit when capable) · fi kieltää (deny, renounce) · ru отказа́ться (deny, renounce) · pl zrzekać się (deny, renounce) · ko 어기다 (break a promise or commitment) · it dissociarsi (deny, renounce) · fr manquer à la parole (break a promise or commitment) · nl belofte breken (break a promise or commitment) · gl botarse atrás (break a promise or commitment) · de nicht Wort halten (break a promise or commitment)