View synonyms for abandon

abandon

[ uh-ban-duhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to leave completely and finally; forsake utterly; desert:
The crew finally abandoned the sinking ship and boarded a lifeboat.
He abandoned his wife and children, leaving them in poverty.
Antonyms: keep
to give up; withdraw from; discontinue:
She had to abandon the research project when the grant money dried up.
I’ve abandoned all hope of a stage career.
Antonyms: start, begin, continue
to give up the control of:
After a long struggle, they abandoned the city to the invading army.
Synonyms: abdicate, waive, resign, surrender, yield
Antonyms: retain
to yield (oneself) without restraint or moderation; give (oneself) over to natural impulses, usually without self-control:
After the breakup, he fell apart and abandoned himself to grief.
Law. to cast away, leave, or desert, as property or a child.
Insurance. to relinquish (insured property) to the underwriter in case of partial loss, thus enabling the insured to claim a total loss.
Obsolete. to banish.

noun

a complete surrender to natural impulses without restraint or moderation; freedom from inhibition:
During this retreat you will learn to play and dance with reckless abandon.

abandon

/ əˈbændən /

verb

to forsake completely; desert; leave behind
to abandon a baby
drivers had to abandon their cars
abandon ship
the order given to the crew of a ship that is about to sink to take to the lifeboats
to give up completely
to abandon a habit
to abandon hope
to yield control of or concern in; relinquish
to abandon office
to give up (something begun) before completion
the game was abandoned
to abandon a job
to surrender (oneself) to emotion without restraint
to give (insured property that has suffered partial loss or damage) to the insurers in order that a claim for a total loss may be made

noun

freedom from inhibitions, restraint, concern, or worry
she danced with abandon

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Derived Forms

aˈbandonment, noun

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Other Words From

a·ban·don·a·ble adjective
a·ban·don·er noun
a·ban·don·ment noun
un·a·ban·don·ing adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of abandon¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English verb abando(u)nen, from Middle French abandoner, from Old French (mettre) a bandon “(put) under (someone's) jurisdiction,” equivalent to a “at, to” (from Latin ad; ad- ) + bandon, from Germanic band (unrecorded); bond ¹; noun derivative of the verb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of abandon¹

C14: abandounen (vb), from Old French, from a bandon under one's control, in one's power, from a at, to + bandon control, power

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Synonym Study

See desert ². Abandon, relinquish, renounce mean to give up all concern in something. Abandon means to give up or discontinue any further interest in something because of discouragement, weariness, distaste, or the like: to abandon one's efforts. Relinquish implies being or feeling compelled to give up something one would prefer to keep: to relinquish a long-cherished desire. Renounce implies making (and perhaps formally stating) a voluntary decision to give something up: to renounce worldly pleasures.

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Example Sentences

Experts say the PPP’s refusal to abandon Yoon is little more than an attempt at survival.

From Los Angeles Times

Fleeing down streets that quickly became congested, some residents were forced to abandon their cars as fire trucks headed toward the flames.

From Los Angeles Times

Prosecutors have abandoned efforts to appeal a New Mexico judge’s decision to toss the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin, ending the botched case.

From Los Angeles Times

During the evacuation, about 30 cars are abandoned on Sunset Boulevard and Palisades Drive.

From Los Angeles Times

And I could really empathize with her and putting her dreams first and thinking she never abandoned her daughter.

From Los Angeles Times