renew

renew — verb

1. to make a document, contract, membership, or other agreement continue to stay le

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to make a document, contract, membership, or other agreement continue to stay legally valid — for example, renewing a passport before a trip or renewing a lease on an apartment; also used when replacing old or worn-out parts to bring something back to good condition.

Example

Padma renewed her passport online before the summer trip to Japan.

renew + passport (document renewal)

Kenji renewed his library books from his phone to avoid late fees.

renew + library book (borrowed item)

Common collocations
  • renew a passport
  • renew a visa
  • renew a contract
  • renew a lease
  • renew a subscription
  • renew a license
  • renew membership
  • renew a library book
Synonyms
  • extend

    Focuses on lengthening the time period rather than re-validating. You extend a deadline but renew a passport.

  • replace

    Used for putting something new in place of something old or broken, without the idea of official re-validation.

  • restore

    Brings something back to its original condition, often through repair work, not administrative re-validation.

Antonyms
  • cancel

    To stop a contract, subscription, or agreement from continuing.

  • expire

    Intransitive — the document or agreement comes to the end of its validity naturally.

Grammar Patterns

renew + noun phrase (document, contract, membership)

renew + noun phrase for + duration

Usage Note

Common objects include documents (passport, visa, license), contracts (lease, insurance), and memberships (library, gym). When used for replacing old parts, the passive voice is common (e.g. 'the brakes need to be renewed').

Common Mistakes

I renewed my driver license yesterday.
I renewed my driver's license yesterday.
The possessive form 'driver's' is standard in British English; American English uses 'driver license' without the possessive, but 'driver's license' is widely understood everywhere.
I need to renew the deadline for my project.
I need to extend the deadline for my project.
'Renew' applies to things that expire and must be re-validated (a passport, a visa); 'extend' applies to pushing a time limit further out.

2. to start doing something again after a pause or interruption, often with fresh e

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to start doing something again after a pause or interruption, often with fresh energy — for example, renewing a search for survivors after a disaster, renewing a friendship by getting back in touch, or renewing a commitment to a goal.

Example

After the earthquake, rescue teams renewed their search for survivors beneath the rubble.

renew + search (effort after interruption)

Talia renewed her friendship with an old classmate she met at a conference in Berlin.

renew + friendship (relationship)

Common collocations
  • renew an effort
  • renew an attempt
  • renew a search
  • renew a promise
  • renew a commitment
  • renew an acquaintance
  • renew a friendship
  • renew an attack
Synonyms
  • resume

    Slightly more formal; focuses on continuing after an interruption. You resume a meeting after a break.

  • reopen

    Used for investigations, debates, or cases that were closed. More specific than renew.

  • reiterate

    Means to say something again, often a position or demand. Narrower in scope than renew.

  • recommence

    Very formal synonym for 'begin again,' used in official or academic writing.

Antonyms
  • abandon

    To give up an effort, search, or attempt entirely.

  • discontinue

    To stop doing something, often permanently, especially in official contexts.

Grammar Patterns

renew + noun phrase (effort, search, promise, friendship)

renew + noun phrase (attack, debate) — often in news contexts

Usage Note

More formal than 'start again' or 'pick up again.' Common in news reports (renewed fighting, renewed attacks) and in contexts of personal relationships or commitments. The object is almost always an abstract noun — you cannot renew a person, only a relationship or connection with them.

Common Mistakes

I renewed playing piano after ten years.
I renewed my efforts to play piano after ten years.' or 'I started playing piano again after ten years.
'Renew' takes a noun phrase object, not a gerund. You renew an effort, not the activity directly.
We renewed our friendship with them after twenty years and they were happy.
We renewed our friendship with them after twenty years, and they were delighted.
Stronger emotion verb ('delighted') is more natural when describing a happy reunion.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Renew, restore, resume, extend, and renovate all involve making something active or usable again, but they differ in scope and context. Renew focuses on extending validity (a passport, a contract) or replacing old parts (tires, brakes) to keep something functional. Restore means returning something to its original condition, often through careful repair — you restore an antique chair or a historic building. Resume is about continuing an interrupted activity (a meeting, a conversation), which is closer to renew's second sense. Extend simply lengthens a time period without re-validating or replacing — you extend a deadline or a holiday. Renovate involves physical improvement or modernisation, almost always of buildings or spaces. Example: 'We renewed our gym membership' (validity extended), 'we restored the old wooden floor' (return to original), 'we resumed the meeting after lunch' (continue after break), 'we extended the booking by two nights' (lengthen time), and 'we renovated the kitchen with new cabinets' (physically improve).

restore ↗resume ↗extend ↗renovate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • renew in person
  • renew by mail
  • renew online
  • renew ahead of time

Prepositions

  • for (a period)
  • with (a company / organization)
  • by (a date)

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Renew comes from the Latin renovare, which combines re- (meaning 'again') with novare ('to make new'), from novus ('new'). The word entered Middle English in the 1300s through Old French renouveler. Its core idea — 'make new again' — has stayed consistent across both the administrative extension sense and the resumption sense.