Library / English Dictionary

RELENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give in, as to influence or pressure

Synonyms:

relent; soften; yield

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "relent"):

truckle (yield to out of weakness)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

Sam and Sue relent

Credits

 Context examples: 

It stood the record of many sensations of pain, once severe, but now softened; and of some instances of relenting feeling, some breathings of friendship and reconciliation, which could never be looked for again, and which could never cease to be dear.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I am extremely sorry, my dear Emma, said Mr. Micawber, relenting, to have been betrayed into any expressions that might, even remotely, have the appearance of being strong expressions.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

And with a relenting smile, he added, “I come home to be happy and indulgent.”

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

In two minutes, however, he relented in his own favour; and muttering something about spruce-beer, walked off.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Amy hastily shook out half a dozen and laid the rest down before Mr. Davis, feeling that any man possessing a human heart would relent when that delicious perfume met his nose.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The minutiae of the business Anne could not attempt to understand; even Captain Wentworth did not seem admitted to perfect confidence here; but that there had been a withdrawing on the gentleman's side, and a relenting on the lady's, and that they were now very glad to be together again, did not admit a doubt.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

My aunt, I may observe, allowed my horse on the forbidden ground, but had not at all relented towards the donkeys.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Another burst of tears; but in spite of that burst, and in spite of that great black word miserable, which served to introduce it, Sir Thomas began to think a little relenting, a little change of inclination, might have something to do with it; and to augur favourably from the personal entreaty of the young man himself.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Everyone was a friend, and she offered kisses to a stranger so confidingly that the most inveterate bachelor relented, and baby-lovers became faithful worshipers.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I was not beaten, or starved; but the wrong that was done to me had no intervals of relenting, and was done in a systematic, passionless manner.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)