1
2
3
as in to revive
to bring back to life, practice, or activity the spate of recent movies based on classic comic book characters has renewed interest in the comics themselves

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in to repeat
to make or do again I can only renew my offer to help—it's up to them to accept it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb renew differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of renew are refresh, rejuvenate, renovate, and restore. While all these words mean "to make like new," renew implies a restoration of what had become faded or disintegrated so that it seems like new.

efforts to renew the splendor of the old castle

When might refresh be a better fit than renew?

The words refresh and renew can be used in similar contexts, but refresh implies the supplying of something necessary to restore lost strength, animation, or power.

a refreshing drink

When is it sensible to use rejuvenate instead of renew?

In some situations, the words rejuvenate and renew are roughly equivalent. However, rejuvenate suggests the restoration of youthful vigor, powers, or appearance.

the change in jobs rejuvenated her spirits

When can renovate be used instead of renew?

The words renovate and renew are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, renovate suggests a renewing by cleansing, repairing, or rebuilding.

the apartment has been entirely renovated

When is restore a more appropriate choice than renew?

While the synonyms restore and renew are close in meaning, restore implies a return to an original state after depletion or loss.

restored a fine piece of furniture

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of renew Hulu renewed the series for 20 episodes in October 2024, following the success of season 1. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Nov. 2025 Currently, he exec produces and stars in the BET+ comedy Churchy, which premiered in February 2024 and has been renewed for a second season. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025 The program’s funding is currently renewed on an annual basis, which creates uncertainty about its ongoing viability among film companies that tend to plan projects far in advance. Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025 The city asked voters to renew its public safety millage. Lily Altavena, Freep.com, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for renew
Recent Examples of Synonyms for renew
Verb
  • By mid-2025, the two countries had opened discussions on defense and free trade, and Bangladesh joined China and Pakistan for a trilateral summit in June after restoring diplomatic ties with the latter.
    MUHIB RAHMAN, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
  • With the transit system running a deficit, the County Board did not specifically restore any of those routes during its deliberations over County Executive David Crowley's budget.
    Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Deputy Jaramillo’s legacy of integrity, compassion, and courage will continue to live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • After making 10 of its 15 three-point attempts in the first quarter, the Heat then missed 15 of its next 16 threes a stretch that continued well into the fourth quarter.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Even before he was forced from office, Oli began to hew closer to China, breaking protocol in 2024 by visiting Beijing before New Delhi to revive dormant rail talks and security coordination.
    MUHIB RAHMAN, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
  • For many Venezuelans, still reeling from years of hyper-inflation before the pandemic lockdowns, the new price hikes revive a familiar nightmare.
    Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • If the build-up of fabric softener is heavy and towels aren't absorbent after completing these three steps, repeat the process.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Naturally, history repeated, with the Bears scoring the final 14 points of the game to steal the victory.
    Dan Duggan, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Screens displayed the election results, periodically refreshed as onlookers awaited the most recent vote tally.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Instead, Mike’s work empowers patients to preserve their individuality while feeling refreshed, confident, and wholly themselves.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Families in some regions are still uncertain whether or when their full benefits will resume.
    Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
  • At the time of writing, there is still a huge degree of uncertainty as to when or how SNAP benefits will be resumed, leaving millions of recipients in the dark.
    James Factora, Them., 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The town was definitively abandoned in 1624 before being resurrected by archaeologists just a few years ago.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Thanks to the years-long efforts of director Guillermo del Toro, he has been resurrected for a new generation.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The company reportedly responded by banning users from using its product to replicate South Park content.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
  • While GPT-4o was a critical factor in the advent of spiralism, the faithful are hardly limited to this model, and have had success replicating elements of this nebulous framework with competitors including Gemini, DeepSeek, and Grok.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Renew.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/renew. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on renew

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!