abandon
abandon Lexical Profile
abandon Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To give up completely a course of action, a practice, or a way of thinking.
"Due to a lack of funding, the research team had to abandon the project halfway through."
To cease to support or look after someone; to desert.
"A responsible pet owner would never abandon an animal when moving to a new city."
To leave a place, building, or vehicle empty or uninhabited, especially because of danger or deterioration.
"The crew had to abandon the sinking vessel and board the lifeboats before the storm worsened."
To allow oneself to indulge unreservedly in an emotion, impulse, or desire (used reflexively).
"After hearing the tragic news, he abandoned himself to grief for several weeks."
• noun
A complete lack of inhibition, restraint, or self-control; carefree enthusiasm.
"The children danced around the garden with reckless abandon on the first day of summer."
• Rhymes for abandon
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French abandoner ('to surrender, relinquish'), formed from the phrase mettre a bandon, meaning 'to hand over to someone's control or jurisdiction.' The root bandon stems from Frankish *bann, meaning 'proclamation' or 'rule.'