Word
abandons
Phoneticsaban·dons
US/əˈbændənz/
UK/ɐbˈændənz/
Definitions
01to leave behind
B1 · Intermediate
v. to leave a person, place, or thing forever.
v. to desert or leave behind a person, place, or thing with no intention of returning. Transitive; requires a direct object.
“The captain abandons the sinking ship only after every passenger is safe.”
“The developer often abandons ambitious projects halfway through when the initial funding begins to dry up unexpectedly.”
02to stop doing
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to stop doing something before it is finished.
v. to cease a course of action or an activity permanently.
“The team abandons the search for the lost keys when it gets dark.”
“The government usually abandons unpopular policies just before an election to avoid losing the support of moderate voters.”
Synonyms
03lack of control
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Literary
n. a feeling of being completely free and not caring what others think.
n. a state of acting without restraint or regard for convention. Usually used in the singular, but the plural can appear in literary contexts to describe multiple instances of such behavior.
“The festival was full of wild dances and joyful abandons.”
“The poet described the various abandons of the youth, who lived for the moment without a thought for the future.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “abandons” in context.
Verb
01. abandons the car on the highway
“The driver abandons the car on the highway after it runs out of fuel.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
02. abandons the child at the gate
“In the opening scene of the novel, the mother abandons the child at the gate of the orphanage.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
03. completely abandons hope
“She completely abandons hope of finding her lost keys after searching for three hours.”
adv + verb + noun
04. suddenly abandons the project
“The lead developer suddenly abandons the project whenever the deadline approaches.”
adv + verb + noun
Noun
05. reckless abandons
“The artist painted with reckless abandons, ignoring all traditional rules of composition.”
adj + noun
06. wild abandons
“The children danced with wild abandons during the summer festival.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“For example, maybe society abandons "first come first served" and we switch everything to a lottery system.” “Stella Benson abandons her job and boyfriend to become an au pair for a rural family’s disabled son.” - 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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