verb

abandon

to desert, to give up, to forsake

He had to abandon his car in the snow.

He had to abandon his car in the snow.

They abandoned the search for survivors.

They abandoned the search for survivors.

She abandoned herself to grief.

She abandoned herself to grief.

((sth.)) to leave (sth.) behind He had to abandon his car in the snow.

((sb.)) to leave (sb.) behind The mother abandoned her child.

((oneself)) ((to sth.)) to give in to (an emotion) She abandoned herself to grief.

Synonyms: desert, forsake, give up; Antonyms: keep, support, continue

From Old French 'a bandon' meaning 'under control', which evolved to mean 'to give up control of'.

Imagine a captain having to abandon a sinking ship.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.