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Definitions

abandon

[uh-ban-duhn] / əˈbæn dən /
NOUN
careless disregard for consequences
Synonyms
STRONGEST
spontaneity
STRONG
disregard freedom impulse licentiousness recklessness thoughtlessness unrestraint wantonness wildness
WEAK
uninhibitedness
Antonyms
WEAK
restraint self-restraint
VERB
leave behind, relinquish
Synonyms
STRONGEST
desert discard discontinue ditch drop out dump leave pull out quit stop surrender vacate withdraw
STRONG
abdicate drop duck dust screw yield
WEAK
back out bail out bow out chicken out cop out cut loose flake out fly the coop give up the ship kiss goodbye leg it let go opt out run out on ship out storm out take a powder take a walk throw over walk out on wash hands of
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance allow begin come continue go hold keep maintain persevere remain start stay
WEAK
adopt assert cherish defend favor pursue retain support uphold
VERB
leave in troubled state
Synonyms
STRONGEST
desert forsake leave leave behind quit reject renounce
STRONG
disown jilt
WEAK
back out throw over walk out on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allow approve come continue stay
WEAK
adopt assert cherish defend favor keep pursue retain support uphold

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"It's truly very sad to know people had to abandon homes built over a lifetime, unsure if they will ever return."

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

This injury also may have caused his mother to abandon him.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Exxon made algae the cornerstone of its clean-energy initiatives for years and pressed on even after a lack of progress led other big oil companies to abandon similar research.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

He was about to abandon a Q+A session afterwards when the first comment came.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Should he abandon his own tree and try to swim back to Abby?

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.