French word

renoncer

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁənɔ̃se/

Meaning

  • verbgive up

Example

Elle a renoncé à fumer.

She gave up smoking.

Illustration for renoncer (give up)

More examples

Il a dû renoncer à son voyage.

He had to give up his trip.

Core concept

A chosen course is set aside, with further effort or involvement no longer intended.

Common phrases

  • renoncer à

    give up ___

  • renoncer à faire

    give up doing ___

  • renoncer à un projet

    give up on a project

  • renoncer au poste

    give up the position

Similar words

laisser tomber: To stop bothering with a troublesome matter or plan and leave it unattended.
abandonner: To leave a thing or plan behind and cease involvement with it.
se priver de: To choose not to do or have something and give it up.
se résigner: To accept a situation after acknowledging that a desired outcome will not happen.

Definition in French

Cesser volontairement de poursuivre une action, une intention ou un projet, généralement introduit par la préposition « à ».

Word origin

French renoncer developed from Old French renoncier, inherited from Latin renuntiare, whose meanings included both reporting and giving something up.

Usage tips

  • Renoncer is more formal than the colloquial expression laisser tomber, especially when describing a project, claim, or right being given up.

Other meanings

  • renounceverb
  • declineverb

Opposites

Related words

  • renonciationrenunciationnoun
  • renoncégiven upadjective

Word lists with this word