abdicate

[ab-di-keyt]

verb (used without object)

abdicated, abdicating 

1. to renounce or relinquish a throne, right, power, claim, responsibility, or the like, especially in a formal manner.

   The aging founder of the firm decided to abdicate.

   Synonyms: quit, resign

verb (used with object)

abdicated, abdicating 

1. to give up or renounce (authority, duties, an office, etc.), especially in a voluntary, public, or formal manner.

   King Edward VIII of England abdicated the throne in 1936.

   Synonyms: repudiate, abandon

abdicate

/ ˈæbdɪˌkeɪt, ˈæbdɪkəbəl, æbˈdɪkətɪv /

verb

1. to renounce (a throne, power, responsibility, rights, etc), esp formally

Other Word Forms

• abdicable adjective
• abdicative adjective
• abdicator noun
• nonabdicative adjective
• unabdicated adjective
• unabdicating adjective
• unabdicative adjective
• abdication noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abdicate¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin abdicāt(us) “renounced,” past participle of abdicāre “to renounce,” from ab- ab- + dicāre “to indicate, consecrate”

Word History and Origins

Origin of abdicate¹

C16: from the past participle of Latin abdicāre to proclaim away, disclaim

Example Sentences

On the streets of Venezuela, meanwhile, some hope that the American threats and show of military force just might lead Maduro to abdicate or for others in his inner circle to unseat him from power.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The tax agency largely abdicated enforcing the amendment, the newsrooms previously reported.

Read more on Salon

Republicans would likely say Democrats are abdicating their duty as elected officials and hindering flood relief bills lawmakers are expected to consider in response to the deadly July Fourth flooding in Central Texas.

Read more on Salon

In recent years of flourishing disinformation ecosystems and broken social contracts, satirical journalism has taken up more than a bit of the work abdicated by legitimate outlets.

Read more on Salon

It may serve his interests by distracting and deflecting but abdicates presidential responsibility.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• forgo 
• relinquish 
• renounce 
• step down 
• vacate