abdicate

[ ab-di-keyt ]

/ ˈæb dɪˌkeɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR abdicate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), ab·di·cat·ed, ab·di·cat·ing.

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.

verb (used with object), ab·di·cat·ed, ab·di·cat·ing.

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.

Words related to abdicate

relinquish, vacate, forgo, renounce, quit, retire, waive, cede, drop, resign, leave, abjure, yield, withdraw, abnegate, abandon, surrender, demit, quitclaim

Words nearby abdicate

abd., abdelkader, abderhalden, abdias, abdicant, abdicate, abdication, abdom., abdomen, abdomin-, abdominal

Origin of abdicate

1535–45; < Latin abdicātus renounced (past participle of abdicāre), equivalent to ab- ab- + dicātus proclaimed (dic- (see dictum) + -ātus -ate¹)

SYNONYMS FOR abdicate

1 resign, quit.

2 abandon, repudiate.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR abdicate ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM abdicate

ab·di·ca·ble

[ab-di-kuh-buhl] /ˈæb dɪ kə bəl/, adjectiveab·di·ca·tive

[ab-di-key-tiv, -kuh-] /ˈæb dɪˌkeɪ tɪv, -kə-/, adjectiveab·di·ca·tor, nounnon·ab·di·ca·tive, adjective

un·ab·di·cat·ed, adjectiveun·ab·di·cat·ing, adjectiveun·ab·di·ca·tive, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH abdicate

abdicate abrogate arrogate derogate

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

Examples from the Web for abdicate

A palace insider however insisted to the Daily Beast today that the Queen was not about to abdicate.
Could The Queen Abdicate on Christmas Day?|Tom Sykes|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Juan Carlos is the second European monarch to abdicate in just over a year.
Shock As King Juan Carlos of Spain Abdicates|Tom Sykes|June 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Much like the British monarchy, when the current Aga Khan is ready to abdicate his post, he will personally choose a successor.
Model Kendra Spears Engaged to a Shi'a Prince|Misty White Sidell|April 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In recent decades it has become the tradition for the monarch to abdicate.
Dutch Queen Abdicates|Tom Sykes|April 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Would it not be better to abdicate at once, rather than rule such a people?
Egmont|Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
How ill do I have to be before I can abdicate the perpendicular in the presence of a young man?
Balloons|Elizabeth Bibesco
Perhaps we should not even demand that the words contained in philosophic handbooks should abdicate all pretension to ambiguity.
Decadence and Other Essays on the Culture of Ideas|Remy de Gourmont
The Unionists assembled to force the regent to abdicate, but he firmly refused to do so.
Sweden|Victor Nilsson
The boldness of Jason intimidated Pelias; he was unwilling to abdicate the crown, yet he feared the resentment of his adversary.
Heathen Mythology|Various

British Dictionary definitions for abdicate

abdicate

/ (ˈæbdɪˌkeɪt) /

verb

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

Derived forms of abdicate

abdicable (ˈæbdɪkəbəl), adjectiveabdication, nounabdicative (æbˈdɪkətɪv), adjectiveabdicator, noun

Word Origin for abdicate

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

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