abandon

a|ban|don¹ W3 [əˈbændən] v [T]

[Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: abondoner, from abandon 'surrendering', from a bandon 'into someone's power']

1.) to leave someone, especially someone you are responsible for

▪ How could she abandon her own child?

2.) to go away from a place, vehicle etc permanently, especially because the situation makes it impossible for you to stay

= ↑leave

▪ We had to abandon the car and walk the rest of the way.

▪ Fearing further attacks, most of the population had abandoned the city.

3.) to stop doing something because there are too many problems and it is impossible to continue

▪ The game had to be abandoned due to bad weather.

▪ They abandoned their attempt to recapture the castle.

▪ Because of the fog they abandoned their idea of driving.

4.) to stop having a particular idea, belief, or attitude

▪ They were accused of abandoning their socialist principles.

▪ Rescuers had abandoned all hope of finding any more survivors.

5.) abandon yourself to sth

literary to feel an emotion so strongly that you let it control you completely

▪ She abandoned herself to grief.

6.) abandon ship

to leave a ship because it is sinking

>abandonment n [U]

abandon ²

abandon² n [U]

if someone does something with abandon, they behave in a careless or uncontrolled way, without thinking or caring about what they are doing

with reckless/wild abandon

▪ They drank and smoked with reckless abandon.