renounce
/ɹɪˈnaʊns/
Group 12Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To formally declare one's abandonment of a claim, right, or possession GRE
Example in Context
The heir stunned the nation by renouncing his claim to the throne in favor of a life dedicated to humanitarian work.
Synonyms
give upabandonreject
Etymology
Literally means to announce back, as in formally giving up something.
- re- (Latin) — back
- nuntiare (Latin) — to announce
Memory Aid
👖Sounds like “renounce my pants”
Imagine someone dramatically RENOUNCING THEIR PANTS in public, declaring they are free from the tyranny of trousers!
Visual Association
🚪A person standing at a door, throwing their keys behind them, symbolizing freedom from possessions.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “renounce” mean on the GRE?
renounce (verb) means “To formally declare one's abandonment of a claim, right, or possession”. The heir stunned the nation by renouncing his claim to the throne in favor of a life dedicated to humanitarian work.
How to remember “renounce” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “renounce” sounds like “renounce my pants”. Imagine someone dramatically RENOUNCING THEIR PANTS in public, declaring they are free from the tyranny of trousers!
What are synonyms for “renounce”?
Common synonyms: give up, abandon, reject.