renege

present singular third person reneges · participle present reneging · participle past reneged · past reneged · alternative renage · alternative reneague · alternative reneg · alternative re-nig · alternative renegue

1. intransitiveTo break a promise or commitment; to go back on one's word.

   Clattenburg awarded Spurs a penalty for the third time after a handball in the area but he reneged after realising that the linesman had flagged Crouch offside in the build-up.

   2011 February 5, Michael Kevin Darling, “Tottenham 2 - 1 Bolton”, in BBC

   1 more example

   Previously I promised not to proselytize miserism, but now I want to renege a little on that promise. If your family income is anywhere near average, you can scrimp and save and cut back for maybe two to four years […]

   2010, Dolly Freed, Possum Living, page 149

   Antonyms: deliver

2. intransitivecard gamesTo break one's commitment to follow suit when capable.
3. archaictransitiveTo deny; to renounce

   All Europe high (all sorts of rights reneged) / Against the truth and thee unholy leagued.

   1608, Josuah Sylvester, The Sepmaines of Du Bartas

   1 more example

   His captaines heart, / Which in the ſcuffles of great fights hath burſt / The Buckles on his breaſt, reneages all temper, / And is become the bellowes and the Fan / To coole a Gypſies Luſt.

   c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]