Definition of 'abandon'
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]
2. verb
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]
3. verb
4. verb
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.
6. See also abandoned
7.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of 'abandon'
verb (transitive)
2. abandon ship
noun
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
noun
Word origin of 'abandon'
verb transitive
noun
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
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
noun
Word origin of 'abandon'
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.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
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. 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
View usage for:
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.
Nearby words of 'abandon'
Related Terms of 'abandon'
Source
Definition of abandon from the
Collins English Dictionary
New collocations added to dictionary
Collocations are words that are often used together and are brilliant at providing natural sounding language for your speech and writing.
Read more
Unlock language with the Paul Noble method
No books. No rote memorization. No chance of failure. Your chance to have a one-to-one lesson with best-selling language expert Paul Noble, try a FREE audio sample of his brand new Mandarin Chinese course.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
13th edition of the Collins Dictionary out now!
Updated with all the very latest new words and senses, this new 13th edition is an unparalleled resource for word lovers, word gamers, and word geeks everywhere.
#homeoflivingenglish
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more