Definition of "renege"

renege

/ɹɪˈnɛɡ/

verb
third-person singular simple present reneges, present participle reneging, simple past and past participle reneged
1. (intransitive) To break a promise or commitment; to go back on one's word.
  Quotations
  Previously I promised not to proselytize miserism, but now I want to renege a little on that promise. If your family income is anywhere near average, you can scrimp and save and cut back for maybe two to four years […]
  2010, Dolly Freed, Possum Living, page 149
  Clattenburg awarded Spurs a penalty for the third time after a handball in the area but he reneged after realising that the linesman had flagged Crouch offside in the build-up.
  2011 February 5, Michael Kevin Darling, “Tottenham 2 - 1 Bolton”, in BBC‎
2. (intransitive) In a card game, to break one's commitment to follow suit when capable.
3. (transitive, archaic) To deny; to renounce
  Quotations
  His captaines heart, / Which in the ſcuffles of great fights hath burſt / The Buckles on his breaſt, reneages all temper, / And is become the bellowes and the Fan / To coole a Gypſies Luſt.
  c. 1606–1607, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene i]
  All Europe high (all sorts of rights reneged) / Against the truth and thee unholy leagued.
  1608, Josuah Sylvester, The Sepmaines of Du Bartas