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abandon

v. · n.
US //əˈbændən// UK //ɐbˈændən// aban·don
  1. 1 to leave behind (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    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.
  2. 2 to stop doing something (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    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.
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  1. 3 freedom of emotion (n.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

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

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

    Example

    The children danced with total abandon in the rain.

    Example

    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'.
Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

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

Word family

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