# abdicate

/ˈæbdəˌkeɪt/ (US) · /ˈæbdɪkˌeɪt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to give up a throne

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to officially step down from being a king, queen, or leader.

For teachers: to formally renounce or relinquish sovereign power or a high office. Often used intransitively when referring to a monarch.

- The king decided to abdicate so his son could lead the country.
- Faced with overwhelming public pressure and a fractured parliament, the emperor chose to abdicate the throne in favour of his youngest daughter.

Usage: Can be used with or without a direct object; when transitive, the object is usually 'the throne' or 'power'.

### 2. to fail a duty

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to stop doing a job or responsibility that you should be doing.

For teachers: to fail to fulfill or undertake a duty or responsibility. Transitive use, often appearing in the phrase 'abdicate responsibility'.

- The government must not abdicate its responsibility to protect the environment.
- Critics argued that the board had abdicated its fiduciary duties by failing to investigate the CEO's questionable financial transactions.

Usage: Almost always takes a direct object like 'responsibility', 'duty', or 'role'.

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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.