abandon

1 of 2

verb

aban·​don ə-ˈban-dən 

abandoned; abandoning; abandons

transitive verb

1

a

: to give up to the control or influence of another person or agent

b

: to give up with the intent of never again claiming a right or interest in

abandon property

2

: to withdraw from often in the face of danger or encroachment

abandon ship

soldiers forced to abandon their position

3

: to withdraw protection, support, or help from

he abandoned his family

4

: to give (oneself) over unrestrainedly

abandoned himself to a life of self-indulgence

5

a

: to cease from maintaining, practicing, or using

abandoned their native language

b

: to cease intending or attempting to perform

abandoned the escape

abandoner noun

abandon

2 of 2

noun

: a thorough yielding to natural impulses

especially : enthusiasm, exuberance

with reckless abandon

Did you know?

You may associate this word with the act of leaving and never returning, given the familiarity of the verb abandon. But the noun abandon, with its more pleasant connotations of freedom, is likely here to stay despite being a relative newcomer. It only entered the English language in the early 1800s, as a borrowing from French that goes back to an Old French word meaning “surrender.” (English had borrowed the verb abandon centuries before from the French speakers living in medieval England.) Louisa May Alcott recognized the word's utility; she used it of Jo in Little Women, writing that “when the writing fit came on, she gave herself up to it with entire abandon, and led a blissful life, unconscious of want, care, or bad weather ...”

Synonyms

Verb

• deliver
• give up
• indulge
• surrender
• yield

Noun

• abandonment
• ease
• lightheartedness
• naturalness
• spontaneity
• spontaneousness
• unconstraint
• uninhibitedness
• unrestraint

Choose the Right Synonym for abandon

abandon, desert, forsake mean to leave without intending to return.

abandon suggests that the thing or person left may be helpless without protection.

abandoned children

desert implies that the object left may be weakened but not destroyed by one's absence.

a deserted town

forsake suggests an action more likely to bring impoverishment or bereavement to that which is forsaken than its exposure to physical dangers.

a forsaken lover

synonyms see in addition relinquish

Examples of abandon in a Sentence

Verb

They abandoned the car on a back road.

That house was abandoned years ago.

The approaching fire forced hundreds of people to abandon their homes.

The officer refused to abandon his post.

The policy abandons the most vulnerable members of society.

She abandoned the party not long after the election.

Noun

added spices to the stew with complete abandon

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Claridge Hotel’s former casino sits abandoned as well. —Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 18 Dec. 2024

If the department’s predictions are correct, the U.S. would be essentially abandoning any pretense of trying to limit climate change. —Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024

Noun

That sense of giddy creative abandon was palpable throughout. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Dec. 2024

Express yourself with wild abandon while the sun opposes Uranus. —USA TODAY, 16 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English abandounen, borrowed from Anglo-French abanduner, derivative of abandun "surrender, abandonment," from the phrase a bandun "in one's power, at one's disposal," from a "at, to" (going back to Latin ad "to") + bandun "jurisdiction," going back to a Gallo-Romance derivative of Old Low Franconian *bann- "summons, command" (with -d- probably from outcomes of Germanic *bandwō "sign") — more at at entry 1, ban entry 1, banner entry 1

Noun

borrowed from French, in part derivative of abandonner "to abandon," in part going back to Old French abandon, abandun "surrender" — more at abandon entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Noun

1815, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing abandon

• abandon/drop all pretense at
• abandon oneself to
• with reckless abandon

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

abandon

1 of 2 verb

aban·​don ə-ˈban-dən 

1

: to give up completely

2

: to withdraw from often in the face of danger

abandon ship

3

: to withdraw protection, support, or help from

abandoned the dog

4

: to give oneself up to an emotion

abandoner noun

abandonment

-mənt 

noun

abandon

2 of 2 noun

: a complete yielding to natural impulses

especially : enthusiasm sense 1, exuberance

Legal Definition

abandon

transitive verb

aban·​don

1

: to give up with the intent of never again asserting or claiming an interest in (a right or property)

2

: to disassociate oneself from or forsake in spite of a duty or responsibility to

abandon one's child

3

: to renounce one's obligations and rights under

abandon a contract

4

: to fail purposely to bring to completion or fruition

abandon a crime

abandon a lawsuit