What does "abated" mean?

1. (became less strong) to have become less strong, loud, or violent. 2. (humbled or weakened) feeling less proud or having less power than before. 3. (cut away) describes a pattern where the background has been cut away to make the design stand out.

abated

US //əˈbeɪtɪd// UK //ɐbˈeɪtɪd// abat·ed

1 became less strong (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to have become less strong, loud, or violent.

to have decreased in force or intensity; used intransitively to describe the subsiding of natural or emotional forces.

Example

The storm finally abated after midnight, and the winds became quiet.

Example

The torrential rain only abated once the cold front had fully passed through the valley, allowing emergency crews to assess the flood damage.
- intensified
- increased
2 humbled or weakened (adj.)
C2 Proficiency Literary

feeling less proud or having less power than before.

reduced in status, pride, or intensity; often used in literary contexts to describe a person's spirit.

Example

He stood with an abated spirit after losing the long argument.

Example

The once-mighty king appeared with abated pride before the council, his influence clearly withered by years of political exile.

Teacher's tip

This adjectival use is rare in modern speech; learners will mostly encounter it in 19th-century literature or poetry.
- humbled
- diminished
- proud
- exalted

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3 cut away (adj.)
C2 Proficiency Technical

describes a pattern where the background has been cut away to make the design stand out.

referring to a surface where the background is lowered or carved out to leave a pattern in relief.

Example

The artist showed us the abated stone where the letters were carved.

Example

The craftsman used a fine chisel to create an abated background, ensuring the silver inscription remained bright against the textured metal.
- carved
- recessed
- raised

Usage

Intransitive in its most common sense; does not take a direct object.