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

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."

(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 notes

In 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.

Memory tip

If something is getting weaker or dying down, it's abating.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

rebate →

Common pairings

the pain abated the storm abated abate a nuisance

Word forms

more abate comparative, abated past tense, abated past tense, abate plural, abated plural, abates plural, abates plural, Abates plural, abates singular, abate singular, abated singular, abatedst singular, abatest singular, abateth singular, abates singular, most abate superlative

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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."

Origin: Old French

Synonyms

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decline die away drop off dwindle ebb fade out fade away fall away fall off gutter out melt away peter

Antonyms

build escalate intensen intensify ramp up wax

Related words

make body fall figure increase create build Peter

Rhymes for abate

ate date rate mate fate slate plate state grate create update locate

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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Words with French origins

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