renting

UK: /ˈrentɪŋ/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rent¹ /rɛnt/   n. 

1. a payment made on a regular basis to the owner of land or other property, for the right to live in or use the property:
   [uncountable] How much do you pay in rent every month? He paid more rent than he had to.
   [countable] Rents are high.

v. 

2. to pay money for the use of (real estate, machinery, etc.) to the landlord or owner:
   [~ + object] I rented a small apartment.
3. to allow the possession and use of (real estate, machinery, etc.) in return for payment of rent: [~ + object]
   The lodge will rent skis for the day.
   [~ (+ out) + object + to + object]
   She rented (out) a small apartment to me.
   [~ + object (+ out) + to + object]
   The company will not rent cars (out) to anyone under 18 years old.
   [~ + object + object]
   She rented me the apartment.

Idioms

4. Idioms, for rent, available to be rented.

rent•er, n. [countable]

rent² /rɛnt/   n. [countable]

1. an opening or large tear made by rending.

rent³ /rɛnt/  v. 

1. pt. and pp. of rend.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rent¹  (rent), n. 

1. a payment made periodically by a tenant to a landlord in return for the use of land, a building, an apartment, an office, or other property.
2. a payment or series of payments made by a lessee to an owner in return for the use of machinery, equipment, etc.
3. Business [Econ.] the excess of the produce or return yielded by a given piece of cultivated land over the cost of production;
   the yield from a piece of land or real estate.
4. profit or return derived from any differential advantage in production.
5. [Obs.] revenue or income.
6. for rent, available to be rented, as a home or store:
   an apartment for rent.

v.t. 

7. to grant the possession and enjoyment of (property, machinery, etc.) in return for the payment of rent from the tenant or lessee. (often fol. by out).
8. to take and hold (property, machinery, etc.) in return for the payment of rent to the landlord or owner.

v.i. 

9. to be leased or let for rent:
   This apartment rents cheaply.
10. to lease or let property.
11. to take possession of and use property by paying rent:
    She rents from a friend.

• Old French renter, derivative of rente
• Vulgar Latin *rendita, feminine past participle of *rendere (see render¹); (verb, verbal) Middle English renten
• Old French
• (noun, nominal) Middle English rente 1125–75

rent′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
rent′a•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 8. lease, let. See hire. 

rent²  (rent), n. 

1. an opening made by rending or tearing;
   slit;
   fissure.
2. a breach of relations or union between individuals or groups;
   schism.

v. 

3. pt. and pp. of rend. 

• 1325–75 for verb, verbal sense; 1525–35 for def. 1; Middle English; see rend

Synonyms

• 1. tear, split, rift, cleft, rip, rupture, fracture.
• 2. division, separation.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rent / rɛnt/ noun

1. a payment made periodically by a tenant to a landlord or owner for the occupation or use of land, buildings, or by a user for the use of other property, such as a telephone
2. the return derived from the cultivation of land in excess of production costs
3. for rent ⇒ available for use and occupation subject to the payment of rent

verb

1. (transitive) to grant (a person) the right to use one's property in return for periodic payments
2. (transitive) to occupy or use (property) in return for periodic payments
3. (intransitive) often followed by at: to be let or rented (for a specified rental)

Etymology: 12th Century: from Old French rente revenue, from Vulgar Latin rendere (unattested) to yield; see render

ˈrentable adjective

rent / rɛnt/ noun

1. a slit or opening made by tearing or rending; tear
2. a breach or division, as in relations

verb

1. the past tense and past participle of rend