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Nina_Nia Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

To relinquish-synonyms?

Hello,

Instead of using the verb 'relinquish' is it possible to use the verb 'give up' in this sentence?

I relinquished her hand (= stopped holding it) and stood up.

Thanks
  

Top answer

Yes

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6 Answers
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Yes
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To me, "relinquish" seems much too formal.

I'd suggest:

I let go of her hand and stood up.
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Here are some possible versions:

I relinquished her hand and stood up. (This sounds rather formal and old-fashioned.)
I let her hand go and stood up. (The more modern version, more matter-of-fact)

I unclasped my hand from hers and stood up. (A little awkward)

I gave up her hand and stood up. (I would not use this version.)
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I'd say "relinquish" and "give up" are much more often used in relation to power/control than to physically letting someone go.
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The Oxford English Dictionary defines 'relinquish' in this way: to stop having something, especially when this happens unwillingly. 'Something'-can be anything... I was a little confused by their definition.

Do you think this sentence below sounds natural and modern?

They had relinquished all hope that she was alive.
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Do you think this sentence below sounds natural and modern? No.

They had given up all hope that she was still alive.

They had relinquished all hope that she was alive.
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