relinquish power

USAGE SUMMARY

"relinquish power" is a correctly formed sentence and is suitable for use in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone is giving up leadership or control, e.g. "The king reluctantly agreed to relinquish power to his son."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He must relinquish power.

Independent

The military council has to relinquish power.

The Guardian

He needs to relinquish power once and for all.

The New York Times

The military has not said when it will relinquish power.

The New York Times

People just don't want to relinquish power without a fight".

The New York Times

For centuries, incentives have been offered for leaders to relinquish power.

The New Yorker

It makes them more tolerant, pluralist and open, and teaches central governments how to relinquish power.

The Economist

Speakers called for the Party to relinquish power and urged the demonstrators to stay in control.

The New Yorker

"We will not relinquish power because of a slogan-chanting crowd.

The New York Times

It is built on the premise that Mr Assad will relinquish power through a transitional government.

The Economist

And when he did relinquish power he often had it thrust back into his hands.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "relinquish power", ensure the context clearly indicates who is giving up power and to whom or what it is being transferred. For example: "The dictator was forced to relinquish power to a democratic government".

Common error

Avoid using "relinquish power" when the context involves delegating tasks or sharing responsibilities, as this implies a complete handover rather than a distribution of authority. For instance, don't say "The manager relinquished power to the team members" if the manager still retains overall authority.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relinquish power" functions primarily as a verb phrase. Based on the real-world examples in Ludwig, it often acts as the predicate of a sentence, describing the action of surrendering authority or control. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correctly formed and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "relinquish power" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that describes the act of giving up authority or control. As highlighted by Ludwig, it appears most often in news and media contexts, indicating its relevance in discussions of politics, leadership, and governance. While formal, its meaning is clear and its application straightforward. When writing, ensure the context indicates who relinquishes power and to whom or what it's transferred. Avoid substituting the term in situations involving task delegation or shared responsibility, because that is a distribution of authority, and not a complete handover.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hand over power

This implies a direct transfer of power from one entity to another.

give up control

This is a more informal way of saying relinquish control, implying a voluntary action.

transfer authority

This focuses on the act of moving authority from one party to another.

cede control

This alternative highlights the act of surrendering control over something specific.

abdicate authority

This alternative suggests a formal renunciation of authority, often by a monarch or high-ranking official.

surrender control

This suggests yielding control, often under pressure or duress.

renounce authority

This emphasizes a formal and public declaration of giving up authority.

yield authority

This implies conceding authority, often due to external forces or circumstances.

step down from power

This suggests a voluntary departure from a position of power, often after a period of service.

vacate position

This emphasizes leaving a specific position of authority.

FAQs

What does "relinquish power" mean?

The phrase "relinquish power" means to give up, surrender, or cede control, authority, or a position of dominance. It often implies a formal or significant transfer of authority.

How can I use "relinquish power" in a sentence?

You can use "relinquish power" in sentences like, "The president agreed to "hand over power" after the election results were certified" or "The company decided to "cede control" of the subsidiary to its local management".

What are some synonyms for "relinquish power"?

Some synonyms for "relinquish power" include "abdicate authority", "cede control", "renounce authority", and "surrender control".

When is it appropriate to use "relinquish power" instead of "give up power"?

"Relinquish power" is more formal than "give up power". Use "relinquish power" in formal writing or when emphasizing the significant or official nature of the transfer. Use "give up power" in more casual contexts.