pawn
4 synonyms and 1 antonym for pawn, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To leave an item with a pawnbroker as security in exchange for money.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To leave an item with a pawnbroker as security in exchange for money.
“He pawned his watch to cover the rent.”
Opposites
2. noun
The least valuable chess piece, which moves forward and captures diagonally.
“She sacrificed a pawn to open up an attack on the king.”
How to use pawn
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French pan ("pledge for payment"), likely from a Germanic word for "deposit" or "security."
Full origin of pawn →