Abandon
verb
To leave someone, especially when they need you.
He abandoned his family.
Often appears as...
- abandon family
- abandon friend
verb
To stop doing or cancel something.
They had to abandon the trip because of the bad weather.
Often appears as...
- abandon plan
- abandon project
verb
To give up control absolutely; to subject oneself to something.
He abandoned himself to despair.
Often appears as...
- abandon oneself to despair
- abandon oneself to fate
Usage tips
Disapproving
Literary
noun
Complete lack of inhibition or restraint.
She danced with wild abandon.
Often appears as...
- dance with abandon
- laugh with abandon
Usage tips
Approving
verb
To relinquish or forfeit a right or claim.
He abandoned his right to the property.
Often appears as...
- abandon claim
- abandon right
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To leave someone, especially when they need you.
He abandoned his family.
Often appears as...
- abandon family
- abandon friend
verb
To stop doing or cancel something.
They had to abandon the trip because of the bad weather.
Often appears as...
- abandon plan
- abandon project
verb
To give up control absolutely; to subject oneself to something.
He abandoned himself to despair.
Often appears as...
- abandon oneself to despair
- abandon oneself to fate
Usage tips
Disapproving
Literary
noun
Complete lack of inhibition or restraint.
She danced with wild abandon.
Often appears as...
- dance with abandon
- laugh with abandon
Usage tips
Approving
verb
To relinquish or forfeit a right or claim.
He abandoned his right to the property.
Often appears as...
- abandon claim
- abandon right
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/2Emotional Weight
Using 'abandon' can evoke strong feelings as it implies neglect or betrayal.
Children felt abandoned when their parents didn't show up for the play.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Temporary
'Abandon' often suggests a permanent decision, not just leaving temporarily.
After years of struggle, he finally abandoned his dream of becoming an actor.
Pro Tip 1/2Emotional Weight
Using 'abandon' can evoke strong feelings as it implies neglect or betrayal.
Children felt abandoned when their parents didn't show up for the play.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Temporary
'Abandon' often suggests a permanent decision, not just leaving temporarily.
After years of struggle, he finally abandoned his dream of becoming an actor.
Pro Tip 1/2Emotional Weight
Using 'abandon' can evoke strong feelings as it implies neglect or betrayal.
Children felt abandoned when their parents didn't show up for the play.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Temporary
'Abandon' often suggests a permanent decision, not just leaving temporarily.
After years of struggle, he finally abandoned his dream of becoming an actor.
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Video examples
Bring on the learning...
But I also meet people who love what they do and couldn't imagine doing anything else. If you said, "Don't do this anymore," they'd wonder what you're talking about. It isn't what they do, it's who they are. They say, "But this is me, you know. It would be foolish to abandon this,
Video examples
How to spot a fad diet -...
lessening the diet's effect over time and resulting in a quick reversal if the diet is abandoned. So while these diets may be alluring early on, they don't guarantee long-term benefits for your health and weight. A few simple guidelines, though, can help differentiate between
Video examples
Endangered Penguins of...
they're not what routine they can get very cold neck and get hypothermia which you can get to they do most of our penguins that come in as chicks which have been abandoned by their parents due to molting and so to help bolster the
Video examples
Are ghost ships real? -...
That applies both at the ocean's surface and deep below. Sailors have always known about currents, but their patterns weren't well known until recently. In fact, tracking abandoned ships was how scientists determined the shape
Video examples
A message of peace, hope...
announced that you were taking a hiatus film abandoning your your musical career and you probably broke millions of hearts around the world including mine what what what what why whena would you do that
Video examples
The myth of Cupid and...
First, Psyche was told to sort a huge, messy pile of seeds in a single night. Just as she was abandoning hope, an ant colony took pity on her and helped with the work.
Video examples
Amazing Animal...
either eat it or bury it secretly but the thief hasn't abandoned her life of crime spy squirrel has a new knot one with a camera theft is such an easy option around a
Video examples
Army Ants Rampage...
Right across the raid front, prey of all sizes are driven from their hiding places. Even wasps must abandon their homes when the ants arrive.
Video examples
The Best Wingmen in the...
is over instead their strategy is to abandon their own desires and support their high status sibling creating a formidable band of brothers
Video examples
Hermit Crabs Use Litter...
Hermit crabs protect themselves by hiding their soft bodies in the abandoned shells of other creatures.
Video examples
Bring on the learning...
But I also meet people who love what they do and couldn't imagine doing anything else. If you said, "Don't do this anymore," they'd wonder what you're talking about. It isn't what they do, it's who they are. They say, "But this is me, you know. It would be foolish to abandon this,
Video examples
How to spot a fad diet -...
lessening the diet's effect over time and resulting in a quick reversal if the diet is abandoned. So while these diets may be alluring early on, they don't guarantee long-term benefits for your health and weight. A few simple guidelines, though, can help differentiate between
Video examples
Endangered Penguins of...
they're not what routine they can get very cold neck and get hypothermia which you can get to they do most of our penguins that come in as chicks which have been abandoned by their parents due to molting and so to help bolster the
Video examples
Are ghost ships real? -...
That applies both at the ocean's surface and deep below. Sailors have always known about currents, but their patterns weren't well known until recently. In fact, tracking abandoned ships was how scientists determined the shape
Video examples
A message of peace, hope...
announced that you were taking a hiatus film abandoning your your musical career and you probably broke millions of hearts around the world including mine what what what what why whena would you do that
Video examples
The myth of Cupid and...
First, Psyche was told to sort a huge, messy pile of seeds in a single night. Just as she was abandoning hope, an ant colony took pity on her and helped with the work.
Video examples
Amazing Animal...
either eat it or bury it secretly but the thief hasn't abandoned her life of crime spy squirrel has a new knot one with a camera theft is such an easy option around a
Video examples
Army Ants Rampage...
Right across the raid front, prey of all sizes are driven from their hiding places. Even wasps must abandon their homes when the ants arrive.
Video examples
The Best Wingmen in the...
is over instead their strategy is to abandon their own desires and support their high status sibling creating a formidable band of brothers
Video examples
Hermit Crabs Use Litter...
Hermit crabs protect themselves by hiding their soft bodies in the abandoned shells of other creatures.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Thich Nhat Hanh
Vietnamese Clergyman
In the past there were people who were not rich but contented with their living style, laughing and happy all day. But when the new rich people appear, people look at them and ask, 'why don't I have a life like that too, a beautiful house, car and garden,' and they abandon their values.
Quote examples
Kirk Franklin
American Singer
When we go through being rejected and abandoned like I did as a kid, you have a lot of fear and anxiety issues that you didn't even know that's what it was defined as. You live your life a lot of times living with the ghost of fear.
Quote examples
Hanya Yanagihara
American Novelist
There comes a point when you're writing a novel when you're in it so deep that the life of the novel becomes more real to you than life itself. You have to write your way out of it; once you're there, it's too late to abandon.
Quote examples
Nastassja Kinski
German Actress
But when it really happens I'm very fascinated, I'm waiting for the moment, because the moment where life abandons you and death steps in, that moment must be fantastic, no?
Quote examples
Zach Braff
American Actor
When we shoot 'Scrubs' I spend every waking hour of my life in an abandoned and haunted hospital. All I can date there are ghosts and they tend to be horrible snugglers.
Quote examples
Jonny Bairstow
English Athlete
My dad was an only child. His father raised him all but alone after his mother abandoned the two of them. He was only three years old.
Quote examples
Jim Crace
English Writer
When a book goes well, it abandons me. I am the most abandoned writer in the world.
Quote examples
Joan D. Vinge
American Author
For every path you choose, there is another you must abandon, usually forever.
Quote examples
Halle Berry
American Actress
My whole life I've had the fear that I was going to be abandoned.
Quote examples
James Q. Wilson
American Politician
Crime is the price society pays for abandoning character.
Quote examples
Thich Nhat Hanh
Vietnamese Clergyman
In the past there were people who were not rich but contented with their living style, laughing and happy all day. But when the new rich people appear, people look at them and ask, 'why don't I have a life like that too, a beautiful house, car and garden,' and they abandon their values.
Quote examples
Kirk Franklin
American Singer
When we go through being rejected and abandoned like I did as a kid, you have a lot of fear and anxiety issues that you didn't even know that's what it was defined as. You live your life a lot of times living with the ghost of fear.
Quote examples
Hanya Yanagihara
American Novelist
There comes a point when you're writing a novel when you're in it so deep that the life of the novel becomes more real to you than life itself. You have to write your way out of it; once you're there, it's too late to abandon.
Quote examples
Nastassja Kinski
German Actress
But when it really happens I'm very fascinated, I'm waiting for the moment, because the moment where life abandons you and death steps in, that moment must be fantastic, no?
Quote examples
Zach Braff
American Actor
When we shoot 'Scrubs' I spend every waking hour of my life in an abandoned and haunted hospital. All I can date there are ghosts and they tend to be horrible snugglers.
Quote examples
Jonny Bairstow
English Athlete
My dad was an only child. His father raised him all but alone after his mother abandoned the two of them. He was only three years old.
Quote examples
Jim Crace
English Writer
When a book goes well, it abandons me. I am the most abandoned writer in the world.
Quote examples
Joan D. Vinge
American Author
For every path you choose, there is another you must abandon, usually forever.
Quote examples
Halle Berry
American Actress
My whole life I've had the fear that I was going to be abandoned.
Quote examples
James Q. Wilson
American Politician
Crime is the price society pays for abandoning character.
Example 1 of 10
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