# abandonment

/əˈbændənmənt/ (US) · /ɐbˈændənmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abandonment
Updated: 2026-05-01

## Senses

### 1. leaving someone or something

noun · CEFR B2

the act of leaving a person, place, or thing forever.

For teachers: the act of deserting or permanently leaving a person, place, or object to whom one has an obligation or attachment.

- The abandonment of the old village happened after the local factory closed down.
- The sudden abandonment of the project left several contractors with unpaid invoices and no clear point of contact for legal recourse.

### 2. giving up a right

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

giving up a legal right, a claim, or a piece of property.

For teachers: the voluntary relinquishment of a legal right, claim, privilege, or interest in property.

- The lawyer explained that the abandonment of the claim meant they could not ask for money later.
- Under maritime law, the abandonment of the vessel to the underwriters allowed the shipping company to claim for a total loss.

Usage: Often used in contexts involving patents, insurance, or property law.

### 3. lack of inhibition

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a feeling of being completely free or losing control of your emotions.

For teachers: a state of complete lack of inhibition or restraint; surrendering oneself to an impulse or emotion.

- She danced with total abandonment, not caring who was watching her.
- The crowd cheered with wild abandonment as the final goal was scored in the closing seconds of the match.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.