English Reference
adjective · verb

abducted

adj. · v.
US /æbˈdəktɪd/ UK /ɐbdˈʌktɪd/ ab·duct·ed

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.describes a person who has been kidnapped.

    adj.functioning as a participial adjective to describe an individual who has been the victim of an abduction.

    Simple

    The family of the abducted child made a public plea for his safe return.

    In context

    Authorities distributed photographs of the abducted teenager to every border crossing in a desperate attempt to prevent the captors from leaving the country.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    v.to be taken away by creatures from another planet in science fiction stories.

    v.used in a science-fiction context to describe the alleged seizure of humans by extraterrestrial beings.

    Simple

    In the movie, the main character claims he was abducted by aliens while driving home.

    In context

    The documentary explores the psychological profiles of individuals who firmly believe they were abducted by extraterrestrials during the 1970s.

A local youth leader says as many as 500 people may have been abducted, though this has not been verified.

BBC News· 25 Aug 2026

An armed group has posted a video showing what ⁠residents said were about ⁠600 women, children and ​older people abducted in an attack on a mosque in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State last week.

The Guardian· 24 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated