These words are alike in meaning to let go or give up. Relinquish is the most general and neutral term in the group. It can indicate no more than the release of one’s grasp: He relinquished the oars. It can denote the letting go from one’s direction or possession, usually voluntarily but sometimes reluctantly.

• A parent relinquishes control over grown children; A creditor may relinquish a claim in consideration of a concession.

Surrender means to give up under compulsion to any person, passion, influence or power: he surrendered his savings to his creditors. Yield is close to surrender , but implies milder compulsion and therefore some softness, concession, respect or eve affection on the part of the person who yields : He yielded the floor to his opponent. Cede means to give up, usually by legal transfer or as the result of a treaty; it is most often used in reference to the concession of territory: France ceded Alsce-Lorraine to Germany in 1871.

Abdicate and resign refer to the formal giving up of some office or position along with its attendant rights, power, etc. abdicate specifically applies to a monarch’s relinquishment of his throne; resign is used to designate the action of a prime minister, some other elected or appointed official, or a person working in business: when George III threatened to abdicate his throne; forced to resign his position as chairman of the board because of ill health. Renounce means to declare against or to give up formally and definitively: to renounce the pomps and vanities of the world; to renounce one’s citizenship. When used in place of abdicate , renounce suggests that the giving up is done for something considered to be more important: Edward VIII renounced his throne for the love of a woman.