abandon
/əˈbændən/to give up completely; to cease to support or maintain
The company abandoned its plans to expand overseas.
The company stopped its overseas expansion plans.
He abandoned his rights to the inheritance.
He gave up his claim to the inheritance.
Often used with a direct object; can also be used intransitively meaning to flee or desert.
to leave a place or person behind, especially in a careless or reckless way
She abandoned her children at the mall.
She left her children unattended at the mall.
Commonly paired with prepositions such as "to" or "in".
Collocations
Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Object Requirement
When using 'abandon', always include what is being abandoned; e.g., 'abandon the plan', not just 'abandon'.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English, via Old French 'abandoner', from Latin 'abbandonare' (ab- ‘away from’ + bandon ‘control, power’).
📝Usage Notes
Use 'abandon' in more formal or serious contexts. For casual speech, verbs like 'leave', 'quit', or 'give up' are often preferred.