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abandon

/əˈbæn.dən/ (Australia, Canada, General-American)/əˈban.dən/ (British, Northern-England, Scotland)/əˈbɛn.dən/ (New-Zealand)syllables: aban·don
  • verb
  • noun
  • from Old French

To give up or relinquish control of, to surrender or to give oneself over, or to yield to one's emotions.

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1 All current definitions

Every sense of “abandon” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.

verb · etymology 1

  1. transitiveTo give up or relinquish control of, to surrender or to give oneself over, or to yield to one's emotions.

    […] he abandoned himself […] to his favourite vice.1856, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James II. Volume 3, page 312:

  2. transitiveTo desist in doing, practicing, following, holding, or adhering to; to turn away from; to permit to lapse; to renounce; to discontinue.
  3. transitiveTo leave behind; to desert, as in a ship, a position, or a person, typically in response to overwhelming odds or impending dangers; to forsake, in spite of a duty or responsibility.

    Many baby girls have been abandoned on the streets of Beijing.

  4. transitiveTo no longer exercise a right, title, or interest, especially with no interest of reclaiming it again; to yield; to relinquish.

    I hereby abandon my position as manager.

  5. transitiveTo surrender to the insurer (an insured item), so as to claim a total loss.
Older & obsolete senses (2)
  1. obsoletetransitiveTo subdue; to take control of.
  2. obsoletetransitiveTo cast out; to banish; to expel; to reject.
Wiktionary: “abandon” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

noun · etymology 2

  1. countableuncountableA yielding to natural impulses or inhibitions; freedom from artificial constraint, with loss of appreciation of consequences. (Now especially in the phrase with abandon.)

    with gay abandon, with wild abandon, with reckless abandon

Older & obsolete senses (1)
  1. countableobsoleteuncountableAbandonment; relinquishment.
Wiktionary: “abandon” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Cross-check: WordNet senses (7)
  1. nounthe trait of lacking restraint or control; reckless freedom from inhibition or worry — also: wantonness, unconstraint
  2. nouna feeling of extreme emotional intensity — also: wildness
  3. verbforsake, leave behind
  4. verbgive up with the intent of never claiming again — also: give up
  5. verbleave behind empty; move out of — also: vacate, empty
  6. verbstop maintaining or insisting on; of ideas or claims — also: give up
  7. verbleave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch — also: forsake, desolate, desert
Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License

Synonyms: abdicate, abjure, blin, cast aside, cease, cede, deliver up, depart from, desert, desist from, discontinue, dispense with

Antonyms: acquire, adopt, advocate, arrogate, cherish, claim, defend, embrace

Wiktionary: “abandon” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

2 History of the word

The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.

Etymology 1 (verb)

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)abandon
  2. Middle Englishabandounen
  3. Old Frenchabandoner
  4. Old Frencha “at, to” + bandon “jurisdiction, control”
  5. Late Latinbannum “proclamation”
  6. Frankish*ban
  7. Proto-Germanic*bannaną “to proclaim, command”
  8. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂- “to speak”

From Middle English abandounen, from Old French abandoner, formed from a (“at, to”) + bandon (“jurisdiction, control”), from Late Latin bannum (“proclamation”), bannus, bandum, from Frankish *ban, *bann, from Proto-Germanic *bannaną (“to proclaim, command”) (whence English ban), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to speak”). See also ban, banal.

Displaced Middle English forleten (“to abandon”), from Old English forlǣtan, anforlǣtan; see forlet; and Middle English forleven (“to leave behind, abandon”), from Old English forlǣfan; see forleave.

Compare typologically abdicate, Russian отказа́ться (otkazátʹsja) (akin to приказа́ть (prikazátʹ), сказа́ть (skazátʹ), указа́ть (ukazátʹ)).

Wiktionary: “abandon” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Etymology 2 (noun)

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)abandon
  2. Middle Englishabandoun
  3. Old Frenchabandon
  4. Old Frenchabondonner

From Middle English abandoun, from Old French abandon, from Old French abondonner.

Wiktionary: “abandon” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Derivatives — words built from “abandon”

abandabandonabilityabandonableabandonedabandoneeabandonerabandonmentabandonwarereabandonunabandonabandonlyabandonness

Phrases & compounds

abandon hope, all ye who enter hereabandon shipall hope abandon ye who enter here

Related terms

flee
Wiktionary: “abandon” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Want to go deeper? See also “abandon” on Etymonline ↗

3 Original language

Where “abandon” came from before it was English.

Etymology 1 (verb)

Came into English from
Old French
Old French abandoner
Oldest written form
Frankish
Frankish *ban
Deepest root (reconstructed)
Proto-Indo-European
Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- “to speak”

Etymology 2 (noun)

Came into English from
Old French
Old French abandon
Oldest written form
Old French
Old French abondonner
Wiktionary: “abandon” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

4 Original meaning

What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root
“to speak”
Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- — rebuilt by linguists from its descendants; never written down.
Wiktionary: “abandon” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913

A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.

abandon v. t. [OF. abandoner, F. abandonner; a (L. ad) + bandon permission, authority, LL. bandum, bannum, public proclamation, interdiction, bannire to proclaim, summon: of Germanic origin; cf. Goth. bandwjan to show by signs, to designate OHG. ban proclamation. The word meant to proclaim, put under a ban, put under control; hence, as in OE., to compel, subject, or to leave in the control of another, and hence, to give up. See Ban.]

  1. To cast or drive out; to banish; to expel; to reject.
  2. To give up absolutely; to forsake entirely ; to renounce utterly; to relinquish all connection with or concern on; to desert, as a person to whom one owes allegiance or fidelity; to quit; to surrender.
  3. Reflexively: To give (one's self) up without attempt at self-control; to yield (one's self) unrestrainedly; -- often in a bad sense.
  4. To relinquish all claim to; -- used when an insured person gives up to underwriters all claim to the property covered by a policy, which may remain after loss or damage by a peril insured against.

abandon n. [F. abandon. fr. abandonner. See Abandon, v.]

  1. Abandonment; relinquishment.

abandon n. [F. See Abandon.]

  1. A complete giving up to natural impulses; freedom from artificial constraint; careless freedom or ease.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), public domain, via GCIDE

5 Use it with confidence

Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.

verbMeaning: To give up or relinquish control of, to surrender or to give oneself over, or to yield to one's emotions.

[…] he abandoned himself […] to his favourite vice.1856, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James II. Volume 3, page 312:

verbMeaning: To leave behind; to desert, as in a ship, a position, or a person, typically in response to overwhelming odds or impending dangers; to forsake, in spite of a duty or responsibility.

Many baby girls have been abandoned on the streets of Beijing.

He was abandoned on the island with no one to help him.

verbMeaning: To no longer exercise a right, title, or interest, especially with no interest of reclaiming it again; to yield; to relinquish.

I hereby abandon my position as manager.

nounMeaning: A yielding to natural impulses or inhibitions; freedom from artificial constraint, with loss of appreciation of consequences. (Now especially in the phrase with abandon.)

with gay abandon, with wild abandon, with reckless abandon

The Italian painters have an abandon in their chiar' oscuro which mellows up their flesh tints in a way that no other school can imitate : the frigidity of their outline is another remarkable feature, and the harmony of their impasto is unique.1846, The New Monthly Magazine and Universal Register, page 453:

nounMeaning: the trait of lacking restraint or control; reckless freedom from inhibition or worry

she danced with abandon

verbMeaning: forsake, leave behind

We abandoned the old car in the empty parking lot

verbMeaning: give up with the intent of never claiming again

Abandon your life to God

verbMeaning: stop maintaining or insisting on; of ideas or claims

He abandoned the thought of asking for her hand in marriage

Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License
Wiktionary: “abandon” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Three steps to owning it

  1. Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
  2. Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
  3. Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?

6 The mastery game

Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.

Step 1 of 10

Say it, then spell it

abandon

/əˈbæn.dən/ · aban·don

Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.

Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________

abandon

/əˈbæn.dən/ · aban·don · verb, noun

Step 1 — Say it and write it

Say “abandon” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.

Step 2 — Know every meaning

Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.

1. (verb) To give up or relinquish control of, to surrender or to give oneself over, or to yield to one's emotions.
2. (verb) To desist in doing, practicing, following, holding, or adhering to; to turn away from; to permit to lapse; to renounce; to discontinue.
3. (verb) To leave behind; to desert, as in a ship, a position, or a person, typically in response to overwhelming odds or impending dangers; to forsake, in spite of a duty or responsibility.
4. (verb) To no longer exercise a right, title, or interest, especially with no interest of reclaiming it again; to yield; to relinquish.
5. (verb) To surrender to the insurer (an insured item), so as to claim a total loss.

Step 3 — Which meaning is it?

“Many baby girls have been abandoned on the streets of Beijing.”

A. To desist in doing, practicing, following, holding, or adhering to; to turn away from; to permit to lapse; to renounce; to discontinue.
B. To give up or relinquish control of, to surrender or to give oneself over, or to yield to one's emotions.
C. To leave behind; to desert, as in a ship, a position, or a person, typically in response to overwhelming odds or impending dangers; to forsake, in spite of a duty or responsibility.

Circle the meaning used.

“I hereby abandon my position as manager.”

A. A yielding to natural impulses or inhibitions; freedom from artificial constraint, with loss of appreciation of consequences. (Now especially in the phrase with abandon.)
B. To leave behind; to desert, as in a ship, a position, or a person, typically in response to overwhelming odds or impending dangers; to forsake, in spite of a duty or responsibility.
C. To no longer exercise a right, title, or interest, especially with no interest of reclaiming it again; to yield; to relinquish.

Circle the meaning used.

“with gay abandon, with wild abandon, with reckless abandon”

A. To leave behind; to desert, as in a ship, a position, or a person, typically in response to overwhelming odds or impending dangers; to forsake, in spite of a duty or responsibility.
B. To desist in doing, practicing, following, holding, or adhering to; to turn away from; to permit to lapse; to renounce; to discontinue.
C. A yielding to natural impulses or inhibitions; freedom from artificial constraint, with loss of appreciation of consequences. (Now especially in the phrase with abandon.)

Circle the meaning used.

Step 4 — History and origin

Which language did “abandon” come into English from?   A. Old Norse  B. Anglo-Norman  C. Latin  D. Old French

Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):

Write three words built from “abandon” and what each means:

Step 5 — Original meaning

The earliest traceable form is Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂-. What did it mean?

How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?

Step 6 — Use it yourself

Write a sentence using “abandon” to mean: To give up or relinquish control of, to surrender or to give oneself over, or to yield to one's emotions.
Write a sentence using “abandon” to mean: To desist in doing, practicing, following, holding, or adhering to; to turn away from; to permit to lapse; to renounce; to discontinue.
Write a sentence using “abandon” to mean: To leave behind; to desert, as in a ship, a position, or a person, typically in response to overwhelming odds or impending dangers; to forsake, in spite of a duty or responsibility.

☐ I can explain its meanings   ☐ I know its history   ☐ I know its original language   ☐ I know its original meaning   ☐ I can use it confidently

Answer key — abandon

Which meaning, sentence 1: C. To leave behind; to desert, as in a ship, a position, or a person, typically in response to overwhelming odds or impending dangers; to forsake, in spite of a duty or responsibility.

Which meaning, sentence 2: C. To no longer exercise a right, title, or interest, especially with no interest of reclaiming it again; to yield; to relinquish.

Which meaning, sentence 3: C. A yielding to natural impulses or inhibitions; freedom from artificial constraint, with loss of appreciation of consequences. (Now especially in the phrase with abandon.)

Origin: D. Old French (Old French abandoner)

Journey: English abandon ← Middle English abandounen ← Old French abandoner ← Old French a + bandon ← Late Latin bannum ← Frankish *ban ← Proto-Germanic *bannaną ← Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂-

Some derivatives: aband, abandonability, abandonable, abandoned, abandonee, abandoner, abandonment, abandonware

Original meaning: Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- — “to speak”

Etymology: From Middle English abandounen, from Old French abandoner, formed from a (“at, to”) + bandon (“jurisdiction, control”), from Late Latin bannum (“proclamation”), bannus, bandum, from Frankish *ban, *bann, from Proto-Germanic *bannaną (“to proclaim, command”) (whence English ban), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (“to speak”). See also ban, banal.

Sources: Wiktionary “abandon” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/abandon#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/abandon