verb
abduct
ab-DUHKT
Abduct (verb) means to take a person away by force, usually secretly and against their will; to kidnap. Example: “Police believe the child was abducted on his way home from school.”
verb
1
To take a person away by force, usually secretly and against their will; to kidnap.
"That same night he had by force abducted the president and the secretary of the club, and had taken them, much against their will upon a voyage in the wonderful air-ship, the “Albatross,” which he had constructed."
— Jules Verne (1904)
"Police believe the child was abducted on his way home from school."
"I was abducted by aliens."
2
In anatomy, to move a limb or body part away from the midline of the body.
"The muscle helps abduct the arm away from the torso."
How to use abduct
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo forcibly take someone away, or, in medical language, to move a body part outward from the center of the body.
Common pairings
abduct a child
abduct the arm
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like abduct.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- abducts
- Past tense
- abducted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Police believe the child was _____ on his way home from school.
Etymology
From Latin abductus, past participle of abdūcō, "to lead away", from ab- ("away") and dūcō ("to lead").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “abduct” mean?
The word “abduct” means to take a person away by force, usually secretly and against their will; to kidnap. In plain terms, to forcibly take someone away, or, in medical language, to move a body part outward from the center of the body.
How do you pronounce “abduct”?
“Abduct” is pronounced ab-DUHKT (/æbˈdʌkt/ in IPA).
How do you use “abduct” in a sentence?
Here is “abduct” used in a sentence: “Police believe the child was abducted on his way home from school.”
What is another word for “abduct”?
Words with a similar meaning to “abduct” include carry off, drag away, kidnap, run away with, seize and spirit away.
What is the opposite of “abduct”?
The opposite of “abduct” — its antonyms — are adduct, reinstate and restore.
What part of speech is “abduct”?
“Abduct” is a verb.
Where does the word “abduct” come from?
The word “abduct” comes from Latin. From Latin abductus, past participle of abdūcō, "to lead away", from ab- ("away") and dūcō ("to lead").
How many meanings does “abduct” have?
“Abduct” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to take a person away by force, usually secretly and against their will; to kidnap.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include abduct:
