verb

abdicate

AB-dih-kayt

Abdicate (verb) means to formally give up a position of power, especially a throne. Example: “The king abdicated in favor of his younger brother.”

verb

To formally give up a position of power, especially a throne.

"The king abdicated in favor of his younger brother."

To fail to carry out a duty or responsibility one is expected to fulfill.

"Critics said the board had abdicated its responsibility to oversee spending."

How to use abdicate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo formally step down from power or duty, most famously used for monarchs giving up the throne.

Common mistake

Not the same as "resign" — "abdicate" is used almost exclusively for monarchs and formal positions of sovereign power, while "resign" is the general word for quitting a job.

Easily confused with

abdicate vs. resign

Common pairings

abdicate the throne abdicate responsibility

Word forms

abdicated past tense, abdicates singular

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The king _____ in favor of his younger brother.

Etymology

From Latin abdicāre, "to renounce or reject", from ab- ("away") and dicāre ("to proclaim").

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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renounce

Antonyms

claim grasp maintain occupy retain seize usurp

Related words

take end keep wait understand interest hold learn

Rhymes for abdicate

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

See all rhymes for abdicate →

Frequently asked questions

What does “abdicate” mean?

The word “abdicate” means to formally give up a position of power, especially a throne. In plain terms, to formally step down from power or duty, most famously used for monarchs giving up the throne.

How do you pronounce “abdicate”?

“Abdicate” is pronounced AB-dih-kayt (/ˈæb.dɪˌkeɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “abdicate” in a sentence?

Here is “abdicate” used in a sentence: “The king abdicated in favor of his younger brother.”

What is the opposite of “abdicate”?

The opposite of “abdicate” — its antonyms — are claim, grasp, maintain, occupy and retain.

What part of speech is “abdicate”?

“Abdicate” is a verb.

Where does the word “abdicate” come from?

The word “abdicate” comes from Latin. From Latin abdicāre, "to renounce or reject", from ab- ("away") and dicāre ("to proclaim").

How many meanings does “abdicate” have?

“Abdicate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to formally give up a position of power, especially a throne.

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