Definitions for abandonəˈbæn dən

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

a•ban•donəˈbæn dən(v.t.)

to leave completely and finally; forsake utterly; desert:
to abandon a child; to abandon a sinking ship.
to give up; discontinue; withdraw from:
to abandon a project; to abandon hope.
to give up the control of:
to abandon a city to an enemy army.
to yield (oneself) without restraint or moderation, as to emotions or natural impulses:
to abandon oneself to grief.
to relinquish (insured property) in case of partial loss, so that the insured can claim a total loss.
Category: Business
Obs. to banish.

Origin of abandon:

1325–75; ME abando(u)nen < MF abandoner for OF (mettre) a bandon (put) under (someone's) jurisdiction =a at, to (< L ad; see ad -) +bandon < Gmc *band; see bond1

a•ban′don•ment(n.)

a•ban•donəˈbæn dən(n.)

a complete surrender to natural impulses without restraint or moderation; freedom from constraint:
to dance with reckless abandon.

Origin of abandon:

1815–25; < F

Princeton's WordNet

abandon, wantonness, unconstraint(noun)
the trait of lacking restraint or control; reckless freedom from inhibition or worry
"she danced with abandon"
wildness, abandon(verb)
a feeling of extreme emotional intensity
"the wildness of his anger"
abandon(verb)
forsake, leave behind
"We abandoned the old car in the empty parking lot"
abandon, give up(verb)
give up with the intent of never claiming again
"Abandon your life to God"; "She gave up her children to her ex-husband when she moved to Tahiti"; "We gave the drowning victim up for dead"
vacate, empty, abandon(verb)
leave behind empty; move out of
"You must vacate your office by tonight"
abandon, give up(verb)
stop maintaining or insisting on; of ideas or claims
"He abandoned the thought of asking for her hand in marriage"; "Both sides have to give up some claims in these negotiations"
abandon, forsake, desolate, desert(verb)
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
"The mother deserted her children"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

abandon(verb)əˈbæn dən
to leave sb or sth
She abandoned her family.; families abandoning their homes

Webster Dictionary

Abandon(verb)
to cast or drive out; to banish; to expel; to reject
Abandon(verb)
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
Abandon(verb)
reflexively: To give (one's self) up without attempt at self-control; to yield (one's self) unrestrainedly; -- often in a bad sense
Abandon(verb)
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
abandonment; relinquishment
Abandon(noun)
a complete giving up to natural impulses; freedom from artificial constraint; careless freedom or ease