
Abandon
To give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
verbAbandon
To give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
verb
Imagine This
Imagine a group of hikers trudging along a stormy trail. When the sky opens and lightning flashes, they decide to abandon their plans, leaving their tents, gear, and map behind as they hurry to safety.
Sounds Like
uh-BAN-dun
Looks Like
a band on
Remember This
Abandon can also be used in phrases like 'abandon ship' or 'with abandon' (unrestrainedly). In noun form, it refers to the act of abandoning or the state of being forsaken.
Other Forms
Connect With
desert, forsake, relinquish, renounce, abdicate, quit
Note
Abandon is not the same as 'abate' (to lessen). Be careful with form: abandon (verb), abandonment (noun), abandoned (adjective), abandoning (present participle). In formal writing, βabandonβ often describes giving up a plan or duty; βwith abandonβ emphasizes unrestrained behavior.
