abandon

[ uh-ban-duhn ]

/ əˈbæn dən /

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verb (used with object)

to leave completely and finally; forsake utterly; desert: to abandon one's farm; to abandon a child; to abandon a sinking ship.

to give up; discontinue; withdraw from: to abandon a research project; to abandon hopes for a stage career.

to give up the control of: to abandon a city to an enemy army.

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

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

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

Obsolete. to banish.

Nearby words

abailard, abakan, abalone, abamp, abampere, abandon, abandon hope, all ye who enter here, abandoned, abandonee, abandonment, abandonware

Origin of abandon

1325–75; Middle English abando(u)nen < Middle French abandoner for Old French (mettre) a bandon (put) under (someone's) jurisdiction, equivalent to a at, to (< Latin ad; see ad-) + bandon < Germanic *band; see bond¹

SYNONYMS FOR abandon

3 yield, surrender, resign, waive, abdicate.

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ANTONYMS FOR abandon

1 keep.

2 continue; begin, start.

3 retain.

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Related forms

a·ban·don·a·ble, adjectivea·ban·don·er, nouna·ban·don·ment, nounnon·a·ban·don·ment, noun

un·a·ban·don·ing, adjective

Synonym study

1. See desert². 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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for abandoning

Secondly, as GBCE reports, it puts the kids themselves at a higher risk of dropping out of school, or abandoning it all together.
The Radio Battle to Educate Ebola’s Kids|Abby Haglage|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She grew up believing her biological mother had died after abandoning her as a baby.
How One Young Woman Escaped Childhood Abuse and a Forced Marriage|Moral Courage|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But having your sound influenced by a genre and abandoning your sound completely are two different things.
Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off’ Is Disappointing|Kevin Fallon|August 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The prime minister also ordered that the general and his immediate subordinates face criminal charges for abandoning their posts.
The Monster of Mosul: How a Sadistic General Helped ISIS Win|Andrew Slater|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Online there are pictures of Iraqi soldiers shedding their uniforms and abandoning their posts.
Mosul's Civilization and Its Discontents|Michael Carson|June 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So far I was disgusted with his conduct; but I had no idea of abandoning the purpose I had in view.
Plane and Plank|Oliver Optic
However enjoyable this cruise might be to me, I had to think of abandoning it.
Their Majesties as I Knew Them|Xavier Paoli
Therefore, our holy reformed branch foreseeing so formidable and unavoidable consequences do very well in abandoning the missions.
The Philippine Islands, 14931898, Volume XXXVI, 16491666|Various
Abandoning the idea of adopting the clerical profession, Mr. Simpson travelled on the Continent and in the East.
Norfolk Annals|Charles Mackie
We can assure you that we have not lost a pound of flesh, by abandoning our cups.
The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus|American Anti-Slavery Society

British Dictionary definitions for abandoning

abandon

/ (əˈbændən) /

verb (tr)

to forsake completely; desert; leave behindto abandon a baby; drivers had to abandon their cars

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

to give up completelyto abandon a habit; to abandon hope

to yield control of or concern in; relinquishto abandon office

to give up (something begun) before completionto abandon a job; the game was abandoned

to surrender (oneself) to emotion without restraint

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

noun

freedom from inhibitions, restraint, concern, or worryshe danced with abandon

Derived Forms

abandonment, noun

Word Origin for abandon

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

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

abandon

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of abandon

SYNONYMS FOR abandon

ANTONYMS FOR abandon

Related forms

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for abandoning

British Dictionary definitions for abandoning

abandon

verb (tr)

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for abandon