Definition of 'abandon'

Word Frequency

abandon

(əbændən )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense abandons , present participle abandoning , past tense, past participle abandoned

1. verb

If you abandon a place, thing, or person, you leave the place, thing, or person permanently or for a long time, especially when you should not do so.

He claimed that his parents had abandoned him. [VERB noun]

The road is strewn with abandoned vehicles. [VERB-ed]

Synonyms: leave, strand, ditch [slang], leave behind More Synonyms of abandon

2. verb

If you abandon an activity or piece of work, you stop doing it before it is finished.

The authorities have abandoned any attempt to distribute food. [VERB noun]

The scheme's investors, fearful of bankruptcy, decided to abandon the project. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: stop, drop, give up, halt More Synonyms of abandon

3. verb

If you abandon an idea or way of thinking, you stop having that idea or thinking in that way.

Logic had prevailed and he had abandoned the idea. [VERB noun]

4. verb

If you abandon yourself to an emotion, you think about it a lot and feel it strongly, especially when other people might think you are wrong to do so.

We are scared to abandon ourselves to our feelings in case we seem weak or out of control. [V pron-refl to n]

5. uncountable noun [usu with N]

If you say that someone does something with abandon, you mean that they behave in a wild, uncontrolled way and do not think or care about how they should behave.

[disapproval]

He has spent money with gay abandon.

Their permissiveness toward their children reflects the wild abandon of their own lives.

Synonyms: recklessness, dash, wildness, wantonness More Synonyms of abandon

6. See also abandoned

abandon ship

More Synonyms of abandon

Video: pronunciation of 'abandon'

Word Frequency

abandon in British

(əˈbændən )

verb (transitive)

to forsake completely; desert; leave behind

to abandon a baby

drivers had to abandon their cars

2. abandon ship

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

to abandon a job

the game was abandoned

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

Derived forms

abandonment (aˈbandonment)

noun

Word origin of 'abandon'

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

Word Frequency

abandon in American

(əˈbændən ; əbanˈdən)

verb transitive

to give up (something) completely or forever

to abandon all hope

to leave, as in danger or out of necessity; forsake; desert

to yield (oneself) completely, as to a feeling, desire, etc.

noun

unrestrained freedom of action or emotion; surrender to one's impulses

to shout in wild abandon

SIMILAR WORDS: reˈlinquish

SYNONYMY NOTE: abandon implies leaving a person or thing, either as a final, necessary measure [to abandon a drought area] or as a complete rejection of one's responsibilities, claims, etc. [she abandoned her child]; desert1 emphasizes leaving in willful violation, as of one's obligation or oath [the soldier deserted his post]; forsake stresses renouncing a person or thing formerly dear to one [to forsake one's friends or ideals]; quit, basically implying to leave or give up, is now commonly used to mean stop [she quit her job]

OPPOSITE: reclaim

Derived forms

abandonment (aˈbandonment)

noun

Word origin of 'abandon'

ME abandonen < OFr abandoner < mettre a bandon, to put under (someone else's) ban, relinquish: see ban1

Word Frequency

abandon in Insurance

(əbændən)

Word forms: (present) abandons, (past) abandoned, (perfect) abandoned, (progressive) abandoning

verb

(Insurance: Claims)

If you abandon insured property that has suffered partial loss or damage, you give it to the insurers so that a claim for a total loss may be made.

COLLOCATIONS:

~ a ship~ a property~ a vehicle

Under such conditions, the ocean marine policy permits the insured to abandon the damaged ship or cargo to the insurer and make a claim for the entire value.

The insured may claim for a partial loss or abandon the property to the insurance company and claim a total loss.

If you abandon insured property that has suffered partial loss or damage, you give it to the insurers so that a claim for a total loss may be made.

Example sentences containing 'abandon'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Cars were abandoned and people had to feel their way home along railings. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Other promises include abandoning " plans to store email and internet records without good cause". Computing (2010)She lost her funding and thought about abandoning her international hopes. Times, Sunday Times (2016)His wild abandon has been infectious. Times, Sunday Times (2016)You don't have a family to just abandon them and leave them. Times, Sunday Times (2016)I spent about 30 seconds trying to feel distressed but abandoned the attempt. Times, Sunday Times (2016)They abandoned their trapped ships and set out in April 1848 but none made it. Times, Sunday Times (2016)A British father has abandoned his attempt to become the first person to swim the Atlantic. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The car was found abandoned four hours after that. The Sun (2006)There are two possible explanations as to why this idea was abandoned. The Sun (2014)Including those who have been abandoned for too long in the race up the tables. The Sun (2013)Before you abandon camp leave signs that you have been there and moved on. Times, Sunday Times (2009)He did not abandon his business completely. Times, Sunday Times (2006)It abandoned a plan to float earlier this year. Times, Sunday Times (2008)Beautiful people in wild abandon was compelling stuff. Times, Sunday Times (2012)The ship took such a battering it had to be abandoned. Christianity Today (2000)To do so means abandoning our way back. Times, Sunday Times (2014)The abandoned cars underscore a worrying trend. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Then he got a job with a recruitment company and the portrait idea was abandoned. Times, Sunday Times (2009)He offers payoff after payoff to gags that we thought were long abandoned. Times, Sunday Times (2013)Having things repaired seems to have become completely abandoned. Times, Sunday Times (2009)Her crew made it to shore after abandoning ship. The Sun (2006)The last thing wildlife needs is for us to abandon hope. Times, Sunday Times (2016)It is not so much what we select, more what we leave abandoned. Times, Sunday Times (2006)If you do lapse, it does not mean you have to abandon your attempts at trying to change. Pete Cohen and Sten Cummins with Jennai Cox HABIT BUSTING: A 10-step plan that will change your life (2002)Four days ago he abandoned plans to impose 15.5 per cent tax on interest on savings accounts and life insurance. Times, Sunday Times (2013)The extent of real choice may vary from place to place, yet an attempt to abandon the notion would be extremely unpopular. Times, Sunday Times (2006)It has it all - texture, wild abandon and warmth. Times, Sunday Times (2010)

Trends of 'abandon'

Very Common. abandon is one of the 4000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'abandon'

British English: abandon /əˈbændən/ VERB

If you abandon a thing, place, or person, you leave them permanently or for a long time.

His parents had abandoned him.

American English: abandon
Arabic: يَهْجُرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: abandonar
Chinese: 放弃
Croatian: napustiti
Czech: zanechat
Danish: opgive
Dutch: in de steek laten
European Spanish: abandonar
Finnish: hylätä
French: abandonner
German: verlassen
Greek: εγκαταλείπω
Italian: abbandonare
Japanese: 見捨てる
Korean: 포기하다
Norwegian: forlate
Polish: porzucić
European Portuguese: abandonar
Romanian: a abandona
Russian: оставлять
Spanish: abandonar
Swedish: överge
Thai: ละทิ้ง
Turkish: terk etmek
Ukrainian: залишати
Vietnamese: từ bỏ

British English: abandon NOUN

with abandon If you say that someone does something with abandon, you mean that they behave in a wild, uncontrolled way and do not think or care about how they should behave.

He has spent money with gay abandon.