abdicate

[ ab-di-keyt ]

See 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.

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”

Other words for abdicate

1	resign, quit
2	abandon, repudiate

See synonyms for abdicate on Thesaurus.com

Other words from abdicate

ab·di·ca·ble [ab-di-kuh-buhl], /ˈæb dɪ kə bəl/, adjective
ab·di·ca·tive [ab-di-key-tiv, -kuh-], /ˈæb dɪˌkeɪ tɪv, -kə-/, adjective
ab·di·ca·tor, noun
non·ab·di·ca·tive, adjective
un·ab·di·cat·ed, adjective
un·ab·di·cat·ing, adjective
un·ab·di·ca·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use abdicate in a sentence

It had offered odds of 10-1 on the Queen abdicating during the Christmas message.
Could The Queen Abdicate on Christmas Day? | Tom Sykes | December 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
And the people themselves can do it, abdicating the virtues and responsibilities of citizenship.
Valerie Jarrett, Obama Consigliere—and Democracy Killer | James Poulos | November 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“We are not giving immunity, we are not giving a free pass, we are not abdicating our responsibilities,” explained Cole.
Senate Debates the Pot Law Loophole | Miranda Green | September 11, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Abdicating market share to ankle-biters is a notoriously poor business strategy for an oligarchic industry like publishing.
Are Indie Presses the Minor Leagues of Publishing? | James McGirk | June 13, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Queen Elizabeth has made it clear she has no intention of abdicating.
Dutch Queen Abdicates | Tom Sykes | April 30, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST

After the peace of Augsburg, which was published in September 1555, the emperor carried out his intention of abdicating.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 8 | Various
Mr. Wharton had already declared his purpose of abdicating any possible possession of the property.
The Prime Minister | Anthony Trollope
As he sat by the door and watched them file out, it was as if he were a king abdicating a throne, and these his faithful subjects.
Other Main-Travelled Roads | Hamlin Garland
Other German kings were abdicating and royal princes were fleeing for safety.
Lest We Forget | John Gilbert Thompson
By his direction the united armies rolled like an avalanche upon Paris,—and Napoleon gave up the struggle by abdicating.
The Story of Russia | R. Van Bergen, M.A.

British Dictionary definitions for abdicate

abdicate

/ (ˈæbdɪˌkeɪt) /

verb

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

Origin of abdicate

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

Derived forms of abdicate

abdicable (ˈæbdɪkəbəl), adjective
abdication, noun
abdicative (æbˈdɪkətɪv), adjective
abdicator, noun

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

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