0 past simple and past participle of relent
1 to act in a less severe way towards someone and allow something that you had refused to allow before:
Then, last year, the government relented and gave these old heroes.
It relented after a series of disputes with the owners.
Later—under pressure from me—it relented, although legal action was still a possibility.
Even if they have repented or relented of it subsequently, such has been the damage to them that their position is irrecoverable.
He gradually came under pressure, and he has now relented a little in these charges.
Then they relented and sold about 4,000 council houses in a few years.
Too late he changed that policy, relented and allowed it to rise.
Too late he relented on that, but not sufficiently.
