abate

[uh-beyt]

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.

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of abate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of abate¹

C14: from Old French abatre to beat down, fell

Example Sentences

But the market reaction isn’t an indication that the anxiety over the Fed has abated.

Read more on Barron's

In Germany, chip maker Infineon gained 2.6% shortly after it said it expects sales to grow in the new fiscal year as demand for chips powering artificial-intelligence data centers shows no sign of abating.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Confidence on Main Street remains near record lows, suggesting there is still considerable room for pessimism and fear to abate and be replaced by rising confidence, fueling both economic and stock market successes.

Read more on Barron's

With no signs of that investment abating, the firm expects more strong quarters ahead.

Read more on Barron's

While the price of eggs has fallen back to normal levels now that the bird flu crisis has abated, people are seeing the price of beef skyrocket by 51% since February 2020.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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