render

1 of 2

verb

ren·​der ˈren-dər How to pronounce render (audio)
rendered; rendering ˈren-d(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce render (audio) ; renders

transitive verb

1
a
: to melt (something) down
render suet
also : to extract (something) by melting
render fat from duck skin
b
: to convert (something) into another substance or form by means of a process or treatment
trees rendered into wood pulp
animal fat rendered into tallow
2
a
: to transmit (something) to another : deliver
… his father left him gold / … which was not rendered to him …Alfred Tennyson
b
: give up, yield
render one's life for a cause
… he rendered up his soul to its Creator …Edward Healy Thompson
c
: to furnish (something) for consideration, approval, or information
render a report
: such as
(1)
law : to hand down (a legal judgment)
a judgment rendered against a defendant
(2)
law : to agree on and report (a verdict)
The jury renders a verdict.
3
a
: to give (something) in return or retribution
render them their due reward.Psalms 28:4 (Revised Standard Version)
b(1)
: give back, restore
That which she had given was rendered unto her again …Cornelia A. P. Comer
usually used with back
… it occurred to me to ask Bob if he still had the pink slip … which he was supposed to keep with his passport and render back to the Haitian officials at departure.Madison Smart Bell
… was kidnapped … and forcibly rendered back [=returned] to Saudi Arabia.Alex Marquardt
(2)
: reflect, echo
The heart's echoes render / No song when the spirit is mute …Percy Bysshe Shelley
c
: to give (something) in acknowledgment of dependence or obligation : pay
render due respect
At the close of business Friday, a public apology for creating the confusion had not yet been rendered.Michael Nowels
d
: to do (a service) for another
render aid
4
a(1)
: to cause (someone or something) to be or become : make
was rendered unconscious
rendered him speechless
… the reliability of the data would be compromised, rendering it useless.Jessica Heath
(2)
: impart
b(1)
: to reproduce or represent (something) by artistic or verbal means : depict
… her sense that life has meaning that cannot be rendered in narrative …Roger Sale
(2)
: to give a performance of
perfectly rendered songs
(3)
: to produce a copy or version of
The documents are rendered in the original French.
(4)
: to execute the motions of
render a salute
c
: translate
render Latin into English
The word was incorrectly rendered as "light."
d
computers : to cause (something, such as an image or text) to display (as on a screen)
It is the most standards-compliant browser out there and it renders text and images even better than Firefox.Sandusky (Ohio) Register
The primary display renders images in rich and vivid color and with deep blacks.PCWorld
: to process for display on a computer screen
Taking two-dimensional imagery from the world's most advanced telescopes, the only computer enhancements have been to render the images into 3D.Kylie Northover
Animators guide characters through specific movements, scenes receive lighting and other finishing touches and, finally, computers render the animations into continuous frames.Jennifer Johnson
5
: to direct the execution of : administer
render justice
6
: to apply a coat of plaster or cement directly to

intransitive verb

1
computers : to display on a digital screen
The image rendered quickly.
Due to screen resolutions or platform restrictions, specific fonts might not render well.Pawel Grabowski
2
obsolete : to give recompense
For he will render to every man according to his works …Romans 2:6 (Revised Standard Version)
renderable adjective
renderer noun
plural renderers
rendering noun
plural renderings

render

2 of 2

noun

: a return especially in goods or services due from a feudal tenant to his lord

Examples of render in a Sentence

Verb Depression can render a person helpless. Both passengers were rendered unconscious in the accident. The sight of her rendered him speechless. The virus rendered the computer useless. He witnessed a car accident and stopped to render aid. The jury rendered a verdict of not guilty.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
With brown tree snakes frequently entering homes, children—whose lower body masses could render bites far more dangerous—were now at risk. Scott Travers, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024 Unless it’s artistically rendered in a colorful bandanna, that is. Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024 The Tradition is a captivating watch, and this Reference 7027 is rendered in yellow gold, providing a tone-on-tone aesthetic within the dial itself. Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2024 Similarly, the tentacles aren’t shot or rendered with any weight. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for render 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English rendren, from Anglo-French rendre to give back, surrender, from Vulgar Latin *rendere, alteration of Latin reddere, partly from re- + dare to give & partly from re- + -dere to put — more at date, do

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4c

Noun

1647, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of render was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near render

Cite this Entry

“Render.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/render. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

render

verb
ren·​der
ˈren-dər
rendered; rendering
-d(ə-)riŋ
1
: to obtain by heating
render lard from fat
2
a
: to furnish or give to another : deliver
render a report
render aid
b
: surrender entry 1 sense 1, give up
rendered their lives to save others
3
: to give in return
render thanks
4
a
: to cause to be or become
render a person helpless
b
: perform sense 3a
render a salute
c
: perform sense 3b
render a song
d
: translate sense 3a, b
render Latin into English
renderable
-d(ə-)rə-bəl
adjective
renderer
-dər-ər
noun

Legal Definition

render

transitive verb
ren·​der ˈren-dər How to pronounce render (audio)
1
: to transmit to another : deliver
2
: to furnish for consideration, approval, or information: as
a
: hand down
render a judgment
b
: to agree on and report (a verdict) compare enter
3
: to give in acknowledgment of dependence or obligation : make payment of
4
: to direct the execution of
render justice
renderable adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on render

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