abandon
uh-BAN-duhn
Abandon (verb) means to leave someone or something behind for good, especially when you have a duty to stay. Example: “It is cruel to abandon a pet just because you are moving house.”
verb
1
To leave someone or something behind for good, especially when you have a duty to stay.
"It is cruel to abandon a pet just because you are moving house."
"The crew was ordered to abandon ship as it began to sink."
"He refused to abandon his injured friend on the trail."
2
To give up an activity, plan, or belief completely.
"After years of doubt, she abandoned her belief that the old story was true."
"We had to abandon our picnic plans when the rain started."
"They abandoned the project after running out of funding."
noun
1
Total freedom from restraint or inhibition, especially in the phrase "with abandon".
"The children splashed through the puddles with joyful abandon."
"He threw himself into the song with complete abandon, not caring who was watching."
"The dancers moved with wild abandon."
How to use abandon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo leave behind or give up on something or someone completely.
Common pairings
abandon ship
abandon hope
with reckless abandon
abandon a plan
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Word forms
- Plural
- abandons
- Third person singular
- abandons
- Past tense
- abandoned
- Archaic forms
- abandonest, abandonedst, abandoneth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It is cruel to _____ a pet just because you are moving house.
Etymology
From Old French abandoner, built from a ("to") and bandon ("control, jurisdiction"), so originally "to hand over to someone else's control" — which shifted to mean giving something up entirely.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for abandon
See all rhymes for abandon →Frequently asked questions
What does “abandon” mean?
The word “abandon” means to leave someone or something behind for good, especially when you have a duty to stay. In plain terms, to leave behind or give up on something or someone completely.
How do you pronounce “abandon”?
“Abandon” is pronounced uh-BAN-duhn (/əˈbæn.dən/ in IPA).
How do you use “abandon” in a sentence?
Here is “abandon” used in a sentence: “The crew was ordered to abandon ship as it began to sink.”
What is another word for “abandon”?
Words with a similar meaning to “abandon” include abdicate, abjure, blin, cast aside, cease and cede.
What is the opposite of “abandon”?
The opposite of “abandon” — its antonyms — are acquire, adopt, arrogate, advocate and cherish.
What part of speech is “abandon”?
Depending on how it is used, “abandon” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “abandon” come from?
The word “abandon” comes from Old French. From Old French abandoner, built from a ("to") and bandon ("control, jurisdiction"), so originally "to hand over to someone else's control" — which shifted to mean giving something up entirely.
Is “abandon” a common word?
“Abandon” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between abandon and leave?
Leave is neutral and can be temporary, but abandon means leaving someone or something behind for good, especially when you have a duty to stay. Abandoning a child, a ship, or a post implies a permanent and usually blameworthy departure.
What is the difference between abandon and forsake?
Both mean to desert someone or something you have an obligation to, but forsake is older and more literary, and often applies to giving up values, beliefs, or people. Abandon is the everyday word and also covers giving up plans or activities, as in "the search was abandoned."
Is abandon always negative?
The verb usually is: it implies walking away from a duty or giving up on something completely. The noun is often positive, though, because it means joyful freedom from restraint, as in "singing with abandon."
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