abandon
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.
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.
to give up the control of: After a long struggle, they abandoned the city to the invading army.
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.
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.
Origin of abandon
1synonym study For abandon
Other words for abandon
Opposites for abandon
Other words from abandon
- a·ban·don·a·ble, adjective
- a·ban·don·er, noun
- a·ban·don·ment, noun
- un·a·ban·don·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for abandon
/ (əˈbændən) /
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: 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
freedom from inhibitions, restraint, concern, or worry: she danced with abandon
Origin of abandon
1Derived forms of abandon
- abandonment, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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