Dictionary

renew

Etymology

From Middle English renewen, an alteration (possibly on analogy with Latin renovāre) of earlier anewen ("to renew"), from Old English nīewian, equivalent to re- + new.

Pronunciation

(RP) IPA: /ɹɪˈnjuː/
(America) IPA: /ɹɪˈnu/

Verb

renew (renews, present participle renewing; simple past and past participle renewed)

(transitive) To make (something) new again; to restore to freshness or original condition. [from 14^thc.]
- c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act V, scene i]:
  In such a night
  Medea gather’d the enchanted herbs
  That did renew old Æson.
(transitive) To replace (something which has broken etc.); to replenish (something which has been exhausted), to keep up a required supply of. [from 14^thc.]
(theology) To make new spiritually; to regenerate. [from 14^thc.]
- 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC ↗, Romans xij:[2]:
  And fassion not youre selves lyke vnto this worlde: But be ye chaunged in youre shape by the renuynge of youre wittes that ye maye fele what thynge that good yt acceptable and perfaycte will of god is.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC ↗, 2 Corinthians 4:16 ↗:
  For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
(now rare, intransitive) To become new, or as new; to revive. [15^th–18^thc.]
- 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC ↗:
  , II.2.6.ii ↗:
  […] to such as are in fear they strike a great impression, renew many times, and recal such chimeras and terrible fictions into their minds.
- 2010 September, Michael Allen, "St. Louis Preservation Fund", St. Louis magazine, ISSN 1090-5723, Vol.16, Is.9, p.74:
  Renewing neighborhoods dealing with vacant buildings badly need options other than demolition or dangerous vacant spaces.
(transitive) To begin again; to recommence. [from 16^thc.]
This murder has been a cold case for decades until last year when the new sheriff renewed the investigation.
- 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC ↗:
  Then gan he all this storie to renew,
  And tell the course of his captivitie […]
- 1660, John Dryden, translating Virgil, (apparently from Eclogue 4), a snippet of translation used to introduce Dryden's Astræa Redux: A poem on the happy restoration and return of His Sacred Majesty Charles II ↗
  The last great age, foretold by sacred rhymes,
  Renews its finished course; Saturnian times
  Roll round again.
- 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter IX, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC ↗:
  “A tight little craft,” was Austin’s invariable comment on the matron; […].
  Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he might catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache.
(rare) To repeat. [from 17^thc.]
- 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC ↗:
  The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds
  Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings.
(transitive, intransitive) To extend a period of loan, especially a library book that is due to be returned.
I'd like to renew these three books. Did you know that you can renew online?