ABC

[ ey-bee-see ]

/ ˈeɪˌbiˈsi /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for ABC on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural ABC's, ABCs.

ABC's (defs. 1, 3).

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Words nearby ABC

abbreviate, abbreviated, abbreviation, abbreviatory, Abby, ABC, abciximab, abcoulomb, ABC Powers, ABC's, ABC soil

Other definitions for ABC (2 of 3)

ABC²

abbreviation

Trademark.American Broadcasting Companies: a television and radio network.

atomic, biological, and chemical: ABC warfare.

Other definitions for ABC (3 of 3)

A.B.C.

abbreviation

Advance Booking Charter.

Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use ABC in a sentence

The program—weirdly—is now under the umbrella of ABC News, and is suffering from flat ratings and an aging demographic.
The Bloodiest Media Coups of 2014|Lloyd Grove|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her mother told ABC News she believes Manson loves her daughter, and that “she has been good to him.”
Mrs. Manson, Hometown Antihero|Justin Glawe|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After rumored courting by both ABC and NBC, Pippa Middleton is reportedly inking a deal to become a Today correspondent.
NBC’s Today Show ‘Hires’ Pippa Middleton|Lloyd Grove, Tom Sykes|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Among her detractors was Dr. Bob Arnot, who covered medical issues for NBC before Snyderman joined the network from ABC News.
NBC’s Soup-Loving Dr. Nancy Keeps Her Job|Lloyd Grove|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

While King has shepherded The Good Wife, Commander in Chief was championed by ABC executive Anne Sweeney.
Will There Ever Be a ‘Good Wife’ Effect on Politics?|Keli Goff|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thus prepared in his “ABC's,” the would-be aviator finally makes his departure for the actual flying school.
The Romance of Aircraft|Lawrence Yard Smith
The line abc in both figures shows the variation of free surface level, supposing the pipe frictionless.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 1|Various
B clamps his instrument and reads off the angle ABC, and the time observer begins to note the time of transit.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 1|Various
Assume that we want to afford security for our main body from any especially dangerous sector such as ABC.
The Plattsburg Manual|O.O. Ellis and E.B. Garey
The questions he asked might have been those of a newly-fledged barrister, who had not learnt the ABC of his profession!
The Day of Judgment|Joseph Hocking

British Dictionary definitions for ABC (1 of 2)

ABC¹

noun

(plural in US) the rudiments of a subject

an alphabetical guide to a subject

(often plural in US) the alphabet

British Dictionary definitions for ABC (2 of 2)

ABC²

abbreviation for

(formerly, of weapons or warfare) atomic, biological, and chemical

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

American Broadcasting Company

Audit Bureau of Circulation

Australian Australian-born Chinese: a person with Chinese parents, born and raised in Australia

US American-born Chinese: a person with Chinese parents, born and raised in the US

British acceptable behaviour contract: a voluntary written agreement between someone who has been involved in anti-social behaviour and a local agency such as a housing association, council, or police

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