renew
re·new/ɹɪˈnju/verb, noun
renew is spelled R-E-N-E-W: 5 letters and 2 syllables (re·new). It appears 5.4 times per million words in written English, the 10,680th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, renew means “To make (something) new again; to restore to freshness or original condition” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in renew?
| Letters | 5: R-E-N-E-W |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: re·new |
| In writing | 5.4 times per million words; the 10,680th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is renew?
Renew appears 5.4 times per million words in written English, the 10,680th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce renew?
- UK /ɹɪˈnjuː/
- British /ɹɪˈnjʉw/
- US /ɹɪˈnju/
Renew has 2 syllables, split re·new in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-renew.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with renew?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as renew from its last stressed vowel (/u/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of renew
- renews present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- renewing participle, present
- renewed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does renew mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To make (something) new again; to restore to freshness or original condition.
- 2
To replace (something which has broken etc.); to replenish (something which has been exhausted), to keep up a required supply of.
- 3
To make new spiritually; to regenerate.
- 4
archaicTo become new, or as new; to revive.
[…] to such as are in fear they strike a great impression, renew many times, and recal such chimeras and terrible fictions into their minds.
- 5
To begin again; to recommence.
This murder has been a cold case for decades until last year when the new sheriff renewed the investigation.
- 6
rareTo repeat.
- 7
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?
noun
- 1
Synonym of renewal.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Renew in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | renouveler |
| German | erneuern , verlängern |
| Portuguese | renovar , reiniciar |
| Spanish | reanudar, renovar , remudar, reemplazar, reponer |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does renew come from?
From Middle English renewen, an alteration (possibly on analogy with Latin renovāre) of earlier anewen (“to renew”), from Old English nīewian (“to restore; renovate; renew”), equivalent to re- + new. Cognate with Old High German giniuwōn (“to renew”), Middle High German geniuwen (“to renew”), Old Norse nýja (“to renew”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).