Abandon

Meaning

Abandon means to leave someone or something behind completely, often permanently or without intending to return.

Pronunciation

/əˈbæn.dən/

Word Forms

• Base form: abandon
• Past tense: abandoned
• Past participle: abandoned
• Present participle: abandoning
• Noun: abandonment
• Adjective: abandoned

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

• abandon hope — to stop believing something positive will happen.
• abandon a plan — to stop following a plan.
• abandon a project — to leave a project unfinished.
• abandon a vehicle — to leave a vehicle behind.
• abandon a child — to leave a child without care or support.
• abandon one's dreams — to give up pursuing one's ambitions.

Example Sentences

• They decided to abandon the old house after the fire.
• She refused to abandon her dream of becoming a writer.
• The crew had to abandon the ship during the storm.
• Never abandon hope, even in difficult times.
• Many companies abandoned the project after funding disappeared.

Literary Example

Example:

“All hope abandon, ye who enter here.”

— Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy (Inferno)

In this famous inscription above the gates of Hell, abandon means to give up completely. Readers are told to leave behind every hope before entering.

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