Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To make new or as if new again; restore.
  • intransitive verb To take up again; resume.
  • intransitive verb To repeat so as to reaffirm.
  • intransitive verb To regain or restore the physical or mental vigor of; revive.
  • intransitive verb To arrange for the extension of.
  • intransitive verb To arrange to extend the loan of.
  • intransitive verb To replenish.
  • intransitive verb To bring into being again; reestablish.
  • intransitive verb To become new again.
  • intransitive verb To start over.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To make new again; restore to former freshness, completeness, or perfection; revive; make fresh or vigorous again; restore to a former state, or to a good state after decay or impairment.
  • To make again: as, to renew a treaty or covenant; to renew a promise; to renew an attempt.
  • To supply, equip, furnish, or fill again.
  • To begin again; recommence.
  • To go over again; repeat; iterate.
  • To grant or furnish again, as a new loan on a new note for the amount of a former one.
  • In theology, to make new spiritually. See renovation, 2.
  • Synonyms To reëstablish, reconstitute, recreate, rebuild.
  • To become new; grow afresh.
  • To begin again; cease to desist.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To make new again; to restore to freshness, perfection, or vigor; to give new life to; to rejuvenate; to reëstablish; to recreate; to rebuild.
  • transitive verb Specifically, to substitute for (an old obligation or right) a new one of the same nature; to continue in force; to make again.
  • transitive verb To begin again; to recommence.
  • transitive verb To repeat; to go over again.
  • transitive verb (Theol.) To make new spiritually; to regenerate.
  • intransitive verb To become new, or as new; to grow or begin again.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive, intransitive To extend a period of loan, especially a library book that is due to be returned.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new
  • verb cause to appear in a new form

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English renewen : re-, re- + newen, to renew (from new, new; see new).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From re- +‎ new, after Latin renovare.

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Examples

  • In this passage, the word renew means “to exchange,” like taking off old clothes and putting on new.

    Do You Know Who I Am? Angela Thomas 2010

  • The deal, reached with ICANN†™ s support, means that customers of RegisterFly could once again renew names, or transfer them elsewhere if they do not want to stay with GoDaddy.

    May 30th, 2007 2007

  • In whatever way you choose to commemorate the horrendous acts of early September four years ago, let us once again renew our gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy and reaffirm our commitment to tolerance, peace and liberty throughout the world.

    09/01/2005 2005

  • Straw is preparing to hand over British taxpayers’ money to the Hamas-led PA (remember that funds for humanitarian projects had never been cut off, though how much they achieve remains questionable) with the usual proviso: “Straw suggested that Britain renew fund transfer to the Palestinians, and that international monitors will work to oversee the financial transactions and see to it that the money is not used by terrorists.”

    Perfect timing Helen 2006

  • Even if your subscription doesn't expire for another five or six months, most readers need several letters from the magazine before taking the trouble to renew, which is very expensive for us and annoying to you.

    Allan Jenkins' Desirable Roasted Coffee 2008

  • Even if your subscription doesn't expire for another five or six months, most readers need several letters from the magazine before taking the trouble to renew, which is very expensive for us and annoying to you.

    Allan Jenkins' Desirable Roasted Coffee 2008

  • Calls renew for Mitch Daniels to enter presidential race | Concealed Politics Click here to leave a comment.

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com Mollie Reilly 2012

  • Stem cells have both the capacity to self-renew, that is, to divide and create additional stem cells, and also to differentiate along a specified molecular pathway.

    WN.com - Articles related to Hip hope from stem cell technique 2010

  • Stem cells have both the capacity to self-renew, that is, to divide and create additional stem cells, and also to differentiate along a specified molecular pathway.

    WN.com - Articles related to Hip hope from stem cell technique 2010

  • Stem cells have both the capacity to self-renew, that is, to divide and create additional stem cells, and also to differentiate along a specified molecular pathway.

    WN.com - Articles related to Hip hope from stem cell technique 2010

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