verb Uncommon

abort

uh-BAWT

Abort (verb) means to stop an action, plan, or process before it is finished, usually because of a problem. Example: “The pilot had to abort the landing due to high winds.”

verb

To stop an action, plan, or process before it is finished, usually because of a problem.

"The pilot had to abort the landing due to high winds."

"The developers aborted the update after users reported crashes."

(medical) To end a pregnancy before the fetus can survive outside the womb.

"The clinic provides counseling for patients considering whether to abort a pregnancy."

How to Use Abort

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo stop something partway through, before it's completed — often because something has gone wrong.

Common pairings

abort a mission abort the launch abort the process

Word Forms

aborted past tense, aborts plural, aborts singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The pilot had to _____ the landing due to high winds.

Etymology

From Latin abortus, past participle of aboriri, "to fail to be born," from ab- ("away, amiss") + oriri ("to arise, be born").

Origin: Latin

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “abort” mean?

The word “abort” means to stop an action, plan, or process before it is finished, usually because of a problem. In plain terms, to stop something partway through, before it's completed — often because something has gone wrong.

How do you pronounce “abort”?

“Abort” is pronounced uh-BAWT (/əˈbɔɹt/ in IPA).

How do you use “abort” in a sentence?

Here is “abort” used in a sentence: “The pilot had to abort the landing due to high winds.”

What part of speech is “abort”?

“Abort” is a verb.

Where does the word “abort” come from?

The word “abort” comes from Latin. From Latin abortus, past participle of aboriri, "to fail to be born," from ab- ("away, amiss") + oriri ("to arise, be born").

Is “abort” a common word?

“Abort” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “abort” have?

“Abort” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to stop an action, plan, or process before it is finished, usually because of a problem.

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Vocabulary lists that include abort:

Words With Latin Origins