abandonment
gb/əbˈændənmənt/ us/əbˈændənmənt/
B2
English
~ 9600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
action
1
the act of deserting someone
The act of leaving a person, animal, or duty and not coming back, when you should stay and care for them or it.
Usage pattern:
the abandonment of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"the abandon of his children"* instead of *"the abandonment of his children"*. Use **abandonment** as the noun for the act, and **abandon** as the verb (e.g. *"He abandoned his children"* but *"his abandonment of his children"*).
Synonyms
desertion (Focuses on leaving someone or somewhere, often used in military or formal contexts.)
|
neglect (Suggests ongoing failure to care, whereas abandonment is usually a clear act of leaving.)
Antonyms
care (Care means giving attention and help, which is the opposite of leaving someone without support.)
Collocations
child abandonment
|parental abandonment
|abandonment of duty
|abandonment of post
|abandonment of a pet
|case of abandonment
Themes
family
|law
|ethics
|society
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The parents were arrested for the abandonment of their children.
- Abandonment of pets increases sharply after the holidays.
- He was dishonorably discharged for abandonment of his post during the battle.
- The shelter takes in animals that are victims of abandonment.
- Laws against child abandonment are strict in most countries.
Learner examples
- The man went to jail for the abandonment of his dog.
- Abandonment of a child is a very serious crime.
- The soldier was punished for abandonment of his duty.
- The city made a new law against the abandonment of pets.
- Abandonment of old people by their families makes many people angry.
Noun
B2
state
2
feeling of being left behind
A strong sad feeling that other people have left you and do not love or want you.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s feelings of abandonment
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think **abandonment** always means a physical act. In this emotional sense, it can describe a **feeling**, as in *"a deep sense of abandonment"*, even if no one physically leaves at that moment.
Synonyms
loneliness (A general feeling of being alone; abandonment often adds a sense that others have left you on purpose.)
|
rejection (Focuses on not being accepted; abandonment suggests being left after once being accepted or cared for.)
Antonyms
belonging (Belonging means feeling accepted and part of a group, which opposes the feeling of being abandoned.)
Collocations
feelings of abandonment
|sense of abandonment
|fear of abandonment
|emotional abandonment
|deep abandonment
Themes
emotions
|psychology
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After the divorce, her feelings of abandonment were very strong.
- The child’s drawings showed a deep sense of abandonment.
- Therapy helped him work through his fear of abandonment.
- She wrote in her diary about the abandonment she felt as a teenager.
- The sudden move to a new country left him with a lasting feeling of abandonment.
Learner examples
- The boy felt strong abandonment when his father left home.
- She cried because of her feeling of abandonment.
- The dog showed signs of abandonment after its owner went away.
- He talks to a therapist about his fear of abandonment.
- Her poems describe her deep sense of abandonment.
Noun
B2
action
3
giving up a plan or project
The act of deciding to stop a plan, project, or policy and not continue it.
Usage pattern:
the abandonment of [a plan/project/policy]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *"stop"* instead of the noun **abandonment** in formal writing. In formal or written contexts, *"the abandonment of the project"* often sounds better than *"the stopping of the project"*.
Synonyms
cancellation (Focuses on officially stopping something before it happens; abandonment can be broader and include stopping something already in progress.)
|
discontinuation (A formal word that stresses bringing something to an end, often in business or technical contexts.)
Antonyms
continuation (Means keeping a plan or activity going, opposite of giving it up.)
Collocations
abandonment of the project
|abandonment of plans
|abandonment of the policy
|complete abandonment
|sudden abandonment
Themes
business
|politics
|work
|planning
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The abrupt abandonment of the project cost the company millions.
- Environmental groups criticized the abandonment of the climate policy.
- The government announced the abandonment of plans to build a new airport.
- Her abandonment of the course surprised her teachers.
- Shares fell after the sudden abandonment of the merger talks.
Learner examples
- The company announced the abandonment of the new plan.
- Abandonment of the project made many workers angry.
- The government’s abandonment of the tax change was on the news.
- There was complete abandonment of the old system last year.
- The team decided on the abandonment of the game because of heavy rain.
Noun
technical
C1
action
4
legal giving up of rights
In law, the act of saying you no longer own or have rights to something, like land, a claim, or a ship.
Usage pattern:
the abandonment of [property/rights/claim]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this legal sense with the everyday sense of simply leaving something. In legal contexts, **abandonment** usually means formally giving up **rights**, not just physically walking away.
Synonyms
relinquishment (A formal legal term that stresses giving up a right or claim.)
|
waiver (Often used when someone officially gives up a legal right, sometimes by signing a document.)
Antonyms
assertion of rights (Means actively claiming or using your legal rights, opposite of giving them up.)
Collocations
abandonment of property
|abandonment of rights
|abandonment of a claim
|insurance abandonment
|constructive abandonment
Themes
law
|business
|finance
Examples
- The court ruled that the long absence amounted to abandonment of the property.
- The contract included a clause on abandonment of rights in case of non-payment.
- In marine insurance, abandonment of the ship may allow the owner to claim a total loss.
- The landlord argued that the tenant’s departure was an abandonment of the lease.
- Abandonment of trademark can occur if it is not used for several years.
Learner examples
- The lawyer talked about the abandonment of property in the case.
- He signed a paper that showed his abandonment of his rights.
- Abandonment of a claim can end a legal fight.
- In this country, abandonment of a trademark happens if you do not use it.
- The judge must decide if there was abandonment of the land.
Noun
literary
C1
state
5
freedom from restraint or control
A way of acting that is very free and wild, without holding back or being careful.
Usage pattern:
with [wild/total] abandonment
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think **abandonment** here means someone has been left alone. In this literary sense, *"with abandonment"* describes a **style of behavior** that is very free and without control, not the act of leaving someone.
Synonyms
uninhibitedness (Suggests freedom from shyness or self-consciousness, similar to behaving with abandonment.)
|
recklessness (Stresses carelessness about danger or results, which is often part of acting with abandonment.)
Antonyms
inhibition (Means holding back because of shyness or social rules, the opposite of acting freely with abandonment.)
Collocations
with wild abandonment
|with complete abandonment
|with reckless abandonment
|dance with abandonment
Themes
emotions
|art
|personality
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She danced with wild abandonment, ignoring the curious looks around her.
- Children ran through the fields with complete abandonment.
- He threw himself into the role with reckless abandonment.
- The singer performed with an abandonment that thrilled the audience.
- For one night, they laughed with total abandonment of their usual worries.
Learner examples
- The children played with wild abandonment in the park.
- She sang with complete abandonment on stage.
- They danced with total abandonment at the party.
- He paints with abandonment and bright colors.
- For a moment, she laughed with abandonment and forgot her problems.
Grammar
Dictionary form
abandonment
IPA
GB/əbˈændənmənt/
US/əbˈændənmənt/
Syllables & stress
aban - don - ment (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (don)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: abandonment
- Plural: abandonment
Word family
Core family
abandon
verb B1
abandoned
adjective
Expressions
abandonment issues
1/əbˈændənmənt ˈɪʃuz/
fixed phrase
informal
long-lasting fear from past abandonment
Emotional problems and fear in relationships because important people left or rejected you in the past.
Examples
- He struggles with abandonment issues after his parents left when he was young.
- Her abandonment issues make it hard for her to trust new partners.
- Therapy helped her understand the roots of her abandonment issues.
abandonment of duty
1/əbˈændənmənt əv dˈuti/
fixed phrase
formal
leaving or failing one’s duties
When someone leaves their job or does not do their important responsibilities, especially in a serious or formal situation.
Examples
- The officer was charged with abandonment of duty during the crisis.
- Abandonment of duty is a serious offense in the military.
- The manager accused the workers of abandonment of duty during the strike.
abandonment of post
1/əbˈændənmənt əv pˈoʊst/
fixed phrase
formal
leaving your assigned position
When a worker or soldier leaves the place where they must stay, without permission.
Examples
- He faced court-martial for abandonment of post.
- Abandonment of post put the entire team at risk.
- The guard was dismissed for abandonment of post during his shift.
abandonment of property
1/əbˈændənmənt əv pɹˈɑpɚti/
fixed phrase
technical
legal giving up of property
In law, when someone gives up ownership of land or things by leaving them and not claiming any rights to them.
Examples
- The city took control after the legal abandonment of property by the owner.
- Abandonment of property can affect who pays the taxes.
- The landlord argued that the tenant’s long absence was abandonment of property.
abandonment of the project
1/əbˈændənmənt əv ðə pɹˈɑd͡ʒɛkt/
fixed phrase
officially stopping a project
The decision to stop a project before it is finished and not continue it.
Examples
- The sudden abandonment of the project shocked investors.
- Abandonment of the project saved money but hurt the company’s image.
- They debated the abandonment of the project for months.
child abandonment
1/t͡ʃˈaɪld əbˈændənmənt/
fixed phrase
leaving a child without care
The act of leaving a child without care, support, or protection and not coming back.
Examples
- Child abandonment is illegal in most countries.
- The charity works to prevent child abandonment in poor areas.
- The report showed a rise in cases of child abandonment.
emotional abandonment
1/ɪmˈoʊʃənəl əbˈændənmənt/
fixed phrase
lack of needed emotional support
When someone does not give you the love, attention, or emotional support you need, even if they stay physically close.
Examples
- She felt emotional abandonment even though her parents were always at home.
- Emotional abandonment in marriage can be as painful as physical separation.
- The book explores themes of emotional abandonment in childhood.
fear of abandonment
1/fˈɪɹ əv əbˈændənmənt/
fixed phrase
fear that loved ones will leave
A strong worry that people you love will leave you or stop loving you.
Examples
- His fear of abandonment makes him very anxious in relationships.
- The child’s fear of abandonment grew after being moved to a new foster home.
- Working on her fear of abandonment improved all her friendships.
parental abandonment
1/pɚˈɛntəl əbˈændənmənt/
fixed phrase
a parent leaving their child
When a mother or father leaves their child without care or contact for a long time.
Examples
- He still struggles with the effects of parental abandonment.
- The court considered parental abandonment when deciding custody.
- Parental abandonment can cause deep emotional problems in children.
with wild abandonment
1/wˈɪθ wˈaɪld əbˈændənmənt/
fixed phrase
literary
in a free, uncontrolled way
In a way that is very free, lively, and without control or care about rules or what others think.
Examples
- They danced around the fire with wild abandonment.
- The children splashed in the river with wild abandonment.
- She laughed with wild abandonment, forgetting her usual shyness.