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View synonyms for

abandon

[uh-ban-duhn]

verb (used with object)

  1. to leave completely and finally; forsake utterly; desert.

    The crew finally abandoned the sinking ship and boarded a lifeboat.

    He abandoned his wife and children, leaving them in poverty.

    Antonyms:
  2. to give up; withdraw from; discontinue.

    She had to abandon the research project when the grant money dried up.

    I’ve abandoned all hope of a stage career.

    Antonyms: , ,
  3. to give up the control of.

    After a long struggle, they abandoned the city to the invading army.

    Synonyms: , , , ,
    Antonyms:
  4. to yield (oneself) without restraint or moderation; give (oneself) over to natural impulses, usually without self-control.

    After the breakup, he fell apart and abandoned himself to grief.

  5. Law.to cast away, leave, or desert, as property or a child.

  6. Insurance.to relinquish (insured property) to the underwriter in case of partial loss, thus enabling the insured to claim a total loss.

  7. Obsolete.to banish.



noun

  1. a complete surrender to natural impulses without restraint or moderation; freedom from inhibition.

    During this retreat you will learn to play and dance with reckless abandon.

abandon

/ əˈæԻə /

verb

  1. to forsake completely; desert; leave behind

    to abandon a baby

    drivers had to abandon their cars

  2. the order given to the crew of a ship that is about to sink to take to the lifeboats

  3. to give up completely

    to abandon a habit

    to abandon hope

  4. to yield control of or concern in; relinquish

    to abandon office

  5. to give up (something begun) before completion

    to abandon a job

    the game was abandoned

  6. to surrender (oneself) to emotion without restraint

  7. to give (insured property that has suffered partial loss or damage) to the insurers in order that a claim for a total loss may be made

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. freedom from inhibitions, restraint, concern, or worry

    she danced with abandon

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • abandonable adjective
  • abandoner noun
  • abandonment noun
  • unabandoning adjective
  • ˈԻDzԳԳ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of abandon1

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English verb abando(u)nen, from Middle French abandoner, from Old French (mettre) a bandon “(put) under (someone's) jurisdiction,” equivalent to a “at, to” (from Latin ad; ad- ) + bandon, from Germanic band (unrecorded); bond 1; noun derivative of the verb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of abandon1

C14: abandounen (vb), from Old French, from a bandon under one's control, in one's power, from a at, to + bandon control, power
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Synonym Study

See desert 2. Abandon, relinquish, renounce mean to give up all concern in something. Abandon means to give up or discontinue any further interest in something because of discouragement, weariness, distaste, or the like: to abandon one's efforts. Relinquish implies being or feeling compelled to give up something one would prefer to keep: to relinquish a long-cherished desire. Renounce implies making (and perhaps formally stating) a voluntary decision to give something up: to renounce worldly pleasures.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Jake Wood did indeed become the executive director, but within a fortnight he resigned saying the project breached the humanitarian principles of "humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence", which he said he would not abandon.

From

An investigation by ProPublica in December 2024 revealed that doctors in states with abortion bans often feel abandoned by lawyers and hospital leaders when seeking guidance on how to proceed with patients in emergencies.

From

Earlier this week, the UK government abandoned plans to withdraw the payments from all but the poorest pensioners after the scheme drew widespread criticism.

From

"Child recruitment has been possible because of the existence of unprotected, abandoned and marginalised children, and legal loopholes in the Colombian justice system," Mr Mantilla said.

From

Backpacks and half-eaten meals lay abandoned on tables where students had fled.

From

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