Word
abandoned
Phoneticsaban·doned
US/əˈbændənd/
UK/ɐbˈændənd/
Definitions
01left behind
B1 · Intermediate
adj. left alone and no longer used or cared for by anyone.
adj. no longer inhabited, maintained, or claimed by owners or residents; forsaken.
“The children found an abandoned house at the end of the street.”
“The explorers discovered an abandoned mining town, where rusted machinery and empty saloons stood as silent witnesses to the gold rush.”
02without control
C1 · Advanced Literary
adj. acting in a wild way without worrying about what is right or safe.
adj. behaving in a wild or unrestrained manner; showing a complete lack of inhibition.
“They danced with abandoned joy until the sun came up.”
“The festival-goers celebrated with abandoned enthusiasm, completely unconcerned with the pouring rain or the late hour.”
Teaching tip
In modern English, this sense is almost always positive, describing freedom or joy rather than the older 'wicked' meaning.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03geological features
C2 · Proficiency Science Technical
adj. describes a place that is no longer being changed by nature, like an old river path.
adj. no longer subject to the active geological or geomorphic forces that originally created the feature.
“The hikers walked along an abandoned river bed that was now full of grass.”
“The survey identified several abandoned shorelines situated hundreds of metres above the current lake level due to post-glacial rebound.”
Teaching tip
This is a highly specific term used by geologists to describe landforms like valleys or coastlines.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “abandoned” in context.
Verb
01. feel abandoned
“The child began to feel abandoned when his parents didn't pick him up on time.”
verb + adj
02. find an abandoned house
“We found an abandoned house in the woods that looked like it had been empty for years.”
verb + adj + noun
03. look abandoned
“The garden looked abandoned, with tall weeds growing everywhere and broken fences.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. completely abandoned
“The village was completely abandoned after the factory closed down.”
adv + adj
Noun
05. abandoned building
“The teenagers were warned not to play inside the abandoned building because it was unsafe.”
adj + noun
06. abandoned car
“The police found an abandoned car on the side of the highway with its lights still on.”
adj + noun
07. abandoned pet
“The local shelter takes in every abandoned pet and tries to find them a new home.”
adj + noun
Usage
Typically used before a noun or after a linking verb like 'be' or 'look'.
Etymology
From Middle English abandoned, equivalent to abandon + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/abandoned