How do you use "abandon"?

This verb is transitive and requires a direct object. Often followed by a noun phrase or a gerund. Almost always used in the prepositional phrase 'with abandon'.

abandon — meaning, definition & examples

Q: What does "abandon" mean?

1. (to leave behind) to leave a person, place, or thing forever, especially when you should stay and look after it. 2. (to stop doing something) to stop doing something before it is finished, often because it is too difficult. 3. (freedom of emotion) a feeling of acting in a completely free way without worrying about what happens.

Word

01to leave behind

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to leave a person, place, or thing forever, especially when you should stay and look after it.

v. to desert or forsake a person, place, or thing, often in breach of a duty or responsibility.

“The sailors had to abandon the sinking ship and get into lifeboats.”

“The explorers were forced to abandon their heavy equipment in the snow to ensure they reached the base camp before the storm intensified.”

Usage

This verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

Synonyms

desert forsake leave

Antonyms

stay remain protect

02to stop doing something

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to stop doing something before it is finished, often because it is too difficult.

v. to discontinue an activity, project, or belief before completion or fulfillment.

“The company decided to abandon the project because it was losing too much money.”

“The government was urged to abandon its controversial new policy after widespread public protests across the capital.”

Usage

Often followed by a noun phrase or a gerund.

Synonyms

discontinue halt drop

Antonyms

continue persist finish

03freedom of emotion

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary

n. a feeling of acting in a completely free way without worrying about what happens.

n. a state of complete lack of inhibition or restraint; a yielding to natural impulses.

“The children danced with total abandon in the rain.”

“She played the violin with such wild abandon that the audience sat in stunned silence until the final note faded.”

Usage

Almost always used in the prepositional phrase 'with abandon'.

Synonyms

unrestraintwildnessfreedom

Antonyms

restraint control caution

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “abandon” in context.

Verb

01. abandon a project

“The company had to abandon the project due to a lack of funding.”

verb + noun

02. abandon hope

“Rescue teams refused to abandon hope of finding survivors in the wreckage.”

verb + noun

03. hastily abandon

“The soldiers were forced to hastily abandon their positions when the enemy approached.”

adv + verb

Noun

04. decision to abandon

“The government's decision to abandon the new tax policy was welcomed by the public.”

noun + infinitive

05. sense of abandon

“She danced with a complete sense of abandon, ignoring everyone else in the room.”

noun + of + noun

Preposition

06. with reckless abandon

“The children ran through the fields with reckless abandon during their summer holidays.”

prep + noun

“There are good reasons to abandon books we’re not enjoying, but our attenuated attention might lead us to tap out too early.”

The New York Times 15 Aug 2026

“He said Ankara’s relations with Libya were stable and that Turkiye would not abandon it.”

Al Jazeera 15 Aug 2026

“One murder victim is described as a “nagging bag of wind” whose “good looks and figure had long abandoned her”.”

The Guardian 15 Aug 2026

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.