abate

American  

[uh-beyt] / əˈbeɪt /

verb (used with object)

abated, abating

1. to reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.; lessen; diminish: to abate one's enthusiasm.

   to abate a tax;

   to abate one's enthusiasm.

   Synonyms:

   weaken, decrease

   Antonyms:

   intensify, increase

2. Law.

   1. to put an end to or suppress (a nuisance).

   2. to suspend or extinguish (an action).

   3. to annul (a writ).

3. to deduct or subtract.

   to abate part of the cost.

4. to omit.

   to abate all mention of names.

5. to remove, as in stone carving, or hammer down, as in metalwork, (a portion of a surface) in order to produce a figure or pattern in low relief.

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verb (used without object)

abated, abating

1. to diminish in intensity, violence, amount, etc.: The pain in his shoulder finally abated.

   The storm has abated.

   The pain in his shoulder finally abated.

   Synonyms:

   subside

   Antonyms:

   intensify, increase

2. Law. to end; become null and void.

abate British  

/ əˈbeɪt /

verb

1. to make or become less in amount, intensity, degree, etc

   the storm has abated

2. (tr) law

   1. to remove, suppress, or terminate (a nuisance)

   2. to suspend or extinguish (a claim or action)

   3. to annul (a writ)

3. (intr) law (of a writ, legal action, etc) to become null and void

4. (tr) to subtract or deduct, as part of a price

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Other Word Forms

• abatable adjective
• abater noun
• unabatable adjective
• unabating adjective
• unabatingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of abate

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French abatre “to beat down,” equivalent to a- a- ⁵ + batre, from Late Latin batere for Latin battuere “to beat”; a- perhaps also understood as a- ³

Example Sentences

Monaco's problems showed few signs of abating as they drew 0-0 at Le Havre to leave the principality club with just one victory in nine outings, dropping them down into 10th place.

From Barron's

The 38-year-old former world number one Djokovic is in the evening prime time slot on Rod Laver Arena and will be hoping the heat has abated by then.

From Barron's

With the Greenland headline risk abating, markets have refocused on an improving global macro backdrop, the strategist say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Both are reliable indicators that selling pressure is abating.

From Barron's

Investor anxiety about the investigation into Fed chair Jerome Powell appeared to abate for now, with the dollar unwinding Monday’s decline.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• decrease
• diminish
• dwindle
• ebb
• recede
• slacken
• subside
• taper
• wane