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Which king famously abdicated in 1936?

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abdicate

American  

[ab-di-kayt] / ˈæb dɪˌkeɪt /

verb (used without object)

• abdicates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• abdicated,
  past participle,  past
• abdicating
  present participle

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

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verb (used with object)

• abdicates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• abdicated,
  past participle,  past
• abdicating
  present participle

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 British  

/ ˈæbdɪˌkeɪt /

verb

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Participles

• abdicating
  present
• abdicated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• abdicate
  simple
• abdicates
  simple
• have abdicated
  perfect
• has abdicated
  perfect
• am abdicating
  progressive
• are abdicating
  progressive
• is abdicating
  progressive
• have been abdicating
  perfect progressive
• has been abdicating
  perfect progressive

Past

• abdicated
  simple
• had abdicated
  perfect
• was abdicating
  progressive
• were abdicating
  progressive
• had been abdicating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will abdicate
  simple
• will have abdicated
  perfect
• will be abdicating
  progressive
• will have been abdicating
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of abdicate

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

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Explanation

Sometimes someone in power might decide to give up that power and step down from his or her position. When they do that, they abdicate their authority, giving up all duties and perks of the job. The original meaning of the verb abdicate came from the combination of the Latin ab- "away" and dicare "proclaim." (Note that in the charming relationships between languages with common roots, the Spanish word for "he says" is dice, which comes directly from dicare.) The word came to refer to disowning one's children, and it wasn't until the 17th century that the first use of the word relating to giving up power or public office was recorded.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

abdicate abdicates abdicated abdicating

Any coach who says “I don’t want to know” where a transfer lives to escape accountability might want to start realizing an entire program can go down when they abdicate responsibility.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

“It is not enough to invoke ethics in the abstract; robust legal frameworks, independent oversight, informed users and a political system that does not abdicate its responsibility are required,” he wrote.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026

In 2006, when a popular uprising forced the king to abdicate, Thapa was already a prominent figure in the pro-democracy movement and had been jailed several times for his role in street protests.

From Barron's ● Feb. 27, 2026

Yet sometimes miracles happen, and Senates don’t entirely abdicate their constitutional advice and consent roles.

From Slate ● Oct. 4, 2025

“The Kaiser must abdicate, otherwise we shall have the revolution,” he was told.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Today, the Court abdicates its vital role in that effort.

From Slate ● Jun. 27, 2025

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2025

Both the Independent and The Telegraph gave the season two-star reviews, with the latter writing that "a once fine drama abdicates with a miserable whimper".

From BBC ● Dec. 20, 2023

There's a lot of speculation over who might take over in her stead as Lakshmi abdicates her throne.

From Salon ● Jun. 10, 2023

Napoleon is deposed by Senate, April 1st, and abdicates, April 11th; liberal constitution introduced by Louis XVIII.,

From Liberty In The Nineteenth Century by Frederic May Holland

Albert II abdicated as king of the Belgians in 2013 as the paternity issue became a royal scandal.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

A few months later, faced with military reversals and urban unrest, Nicholas abdicated the throne.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

There is something quietly ironic about expecting municipal leaders to serve as democratic guardrails when we have collectively abdicated our own responsibility in even the simplest level of civic participation.

From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2026

Juan Carlos abdicated later in 2014, handing the throne to Felipe.

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2025

“You’ve just come from Erhenrang; what are they saying there about these rumors that Argaven has in fact abdicated without announcement, handed the sledge over to his cousin?”

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

It is “unfair to say the court is abdicating its authority,” said the ex-prosecutor, who also requested anonymity to speak candidly about the district’s judges.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 4, 2026

“If that’s true, what would prohibit Congress from just abdicating all responsibility to regulate foreign commerce—for that matter, declare war—to the president?”

From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2025

After abdicating, the Maharaja stirred more controversy by insisting on marrying an American woman against the will of his family and community.

From BBC ● Jan. 11, 2025

"She is abdicating her duty, and this is something that she needs to decide, not a jury. It's a question of law, not a question of fact."

From Salon ● Apr. 3, 2024

He wanted to lie down in this redolent field, curl up in the green womb in the dazzling aura of these mountains, growing warm and drowsy under the sun, abdicating all responsibilities—and sleep.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

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Related Words

• forgo
• relinquish
• renounce
• step down
• vacate

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