verb
abate
uh-BAYT
Abate (verb) means to become less strong or severe; to die down. Example: “The storm finally began to abate around midnight.”
verb
1
To become less strong or severe; to die down.
"The storm finally began to abate around midnight."
"His anger slowly abated as she explained what had happened."
2
(law) To cancel or bring a legal matter to an end.
"The lawsuit was abated after the company settled out of court."
"The court abated the claim once both parties reached an agreement."
How to use abate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo calm down or lessen — used for storms, pain, anger, noise, or (in law) a legal case.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with a rebate (a refund) or the surname Abate — unrelated words that just look similar.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
the pain abated
the storm abated
abate a nuisance
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Word forms
- Plural
- abates
- Third person singular
- abates
- Past tense
- abated
- Comparative
- more abate
- Superlative
- most abate
- Archaic forms
- abatedst, abatest, abateth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The storm finally began to _____ around midnight.
Etymology
From Old French abatre, "to beat down" — the same root as "batter."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for abate
See all rhymes for abate →Frequently asked questions
What does “abate” mean?
The word “abate” means to become less strong or severe; to die down. In plain terms, to calm down or lessen — used for storms, pain, anger, noise, or (in law) a legal case.
How do you pronounce “abate”?
“Abate” is pronounced uh-BAYT (/əˈbeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “abate” in a sentence?
Here is “abate” used in a sentence: “The storm finally began to abate around midnight.”
What is another word for “abate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “abate” include decline, die away, drop off, dwindle, ebb and fade out.
What is the opposite of “abate”?
The opposite of “abate” — its antonyms — are build, escalate, intensen, intensify and ramp up.
What part of speech is “abate”?
“Abate” is a verb.
Where does the word “abate” come from?
The word “abate” comes from Old French. From Old French abatre, "to beat down" — the same root as "batter.".
How many meanings does “abate” have?
“Abate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to become less strong or severe; to die down.
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