renew

/rɪˈnu/

/rɪˈnu/

Other forms: renewed; renewing; renews

If you make something like new, you renew it. When you catch up with an old friend you haven't seen in a long time, you renew your friendship.

To renew is to make new again. If you get a new due date for your library books, you've renewed them. If you forget to renew them, your books will be overdue, and you may have to pay a fine. Renew also means to revive, restore, or cause to appear in a new form. Historically, all kinds of tonics have claimed to renew a person's health, but many of the early ones actually contained poisons that could kill you.

Definitions of renew

1. verb

   reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new
   “We renewed our friendship after a hiatus of twenty years”

   “They renewed their membership”

   synonyms: regenerate

   types:

   replace

   substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)

   freshen up, refurbish, renovate

   make brighter and prettier

   revamp

   patch up or renovate; repair or restore

   remold, remould, retread

   give new treads to (a tire)

   renovate, restitute

   restore to a previous or better condition

   freshen, refresh

   make (to feel) fresh

   revitalise, revitalize

   give new life or vigor to

   regenerate, rejuvenate, restore

   return to life; get or give new life or energy

   modernise, modernize, overhaul

   make repairs, renovations, revisions or adjustments to

   reconstruct, restore

   return to its original or usable and functioning condition

   change, commute, convert, exchange

   exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category

   change

   remove or replace the coverings of

   gentrify

   renovate so as to make it conform to middle-class aspirations

   reincarnate

   cause to appear in a new form

   resurrect, revive

   restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state

   retrofit

   substitute new or modernized parts or equipment for older ones

   air, air out, vent, ventilate

   expose to cool or cold air so as to cool or freshen

   novate

   replace with something new, especially an old obligation by a new one

   decompress, uncompress

   restore to its uncompressed form

   rehab, rehabilitate

   restore someone to a good state of health or reputation

   rehabilitate

   restore to a state of good condition or operation

   defibrillate

   stop the fibrillation and restore normal contractions, usually by means of electric shocks

   reinstate

   restore to the previous state or rank

   type of:

   re-create

   create anew
2. verb

   cause to appear in a new form
   synonyms: reincarnate

   type of:

   regenerate, rejuvenate, restore

   return to life; get or give new life or energy