Relinquish means to give up or hand over something, usually a right, claim, power, or possession, often unwillingly or with some reluctance.

Core meaning

  • To give up or surrender something you have, such as rights, power, a position, or control.
  • Often suggests you once had control or ownership, and now you are letting it go, sometimes under pressure.

Common ways it’s used

  • Legal or formal contexts:
    • “Relinquish custody of a child.”
* “Relinquish rights to a property.”
  • Work or authority:
    • “Relinquish control of the project.”
* “Relinquish your role as team leader.”

In more casual English, people usually say “give up,” “hand over,” or “let go of” instead of “relinquish,” because “relinquish” sounds formal.