relent
verb /rɪˈlent/
/rɪˈlent/
(formal)Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they relent | /rɪˈlent/ /rɪˈlent/ |
| he / she / it relents | /rɪˈlents/ /rɪˈlents/ |
| past simple relented | /rɪˈlentɪd/ /rɪˈlentɪd/ |
| past participle relented | /rɪˈlentɪd/ /rɪˈlentɪd/ |
| -ing form relenting | /rɪˈlentɪŋ/ /rɪˈlentɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive] to finally agree to something after refusing synonym give in (to somebody/something)
- ‘Well, just for a little while then,’ she said, finally relenting.
- The government has relented on this issue.
- [intransitive] to become less determined, strong, etc.
- After two days the rain relented.
- The police will not relent in their fight against crime.
- The government considered making everybody pay the tax but relented.
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘dissolve, melt’): based on Latin re- ‘back’ + lentare ‘to bend’ (from lentus ‘flexible’).