MEANING
To become less strict, harsh, or unwilling, and allow something previously refused.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- finally relent
- relent under pressure
On the page
After a second appeal, the caretaker relented and opened the gate.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- relent
- Past tense
- relented
- Past participle
- relented
- Present participle
- relenting
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- relent
- Present continuous
- am/is/are relenting
- Present perfect
- have/has relented
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been relenting
- Past
- relented
- Past continuous
- was/were relenting
- Past perfect
- had relented
- Past perfect continuous
- had been relenting
- Future
- will relent
- Future continuous
- will be relenting
- Future perfect
- will have relented
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been relenting
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: relent; relents; relented; relented; relenting Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: relents.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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