abolish
gb/əbˈɑlɪʃ/ us/əbˈɑlɪʃ/
B2
English
~ 6100
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
B2
action
1
formally end a law or system
To officially stop a law, system, or practice so that it does not exist anymore.
Usage pattern:
to abolish [law/system/practice]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "abolish" for physical objects (e.g., *"They abolished the building"*), but it is normally used for laws, systems, rules, or practices, not for things you can touch. Another mistake is using it in very casual situations where simpler verbs like "stop" or "end" are more natural.
Synonyms
eliminate (More general; can mean to remove anything, not just official systems or laws.)
|
repeal (Used mainly for canceling laws or regulations; more technical and legal than "abolish.")
|
outlaw (Focuses on making something illegal, while "abolish" stresses ending its existence as a system or practice.)
Antonyms
establish (Means to start or create a system or law, which is the opposite of ending it.)
|
introduce (Means to bring in a new law or system, rather than ending it.)
|
maintain (Means to keep a law or system in place instead of ending it.)
Collocations
abolish slavery
|abolish the death penalty
|abolish a law
|move to abolish
|campaign to abolish
|call to abolish
Themes
law
|politics
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The government plans to abolish the old tax law next year.
- Many countries have abolished the death penalty in the last few decades.
- The organization campaigns to abolish child labor worldwide.
- Slavery was officially abolished in the country after the civil war.
- They are calling on the university to abolish tuition fees altogether.
Learner examples
- The country abolished slavery many years ago.
- Some people want to abolish the death penalty.
- Our city decided to abolish parking fees on Sundays.
- The new leader promised to abolish the unfair law.
- The group works to abolish child labor.
Grammar
Dictionary form
abolish
IPA
GB/əbˈɑlɪʃ/
US/əbˈɑlɪʃ/
Syllables & stress
ab - ol - ish (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ol)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: abolish
- 3rd Person Singular: abolishes
- Present Participle: abolishing
- Past: abolished
Word family
Forms
abolishes
verb
abolishing
verb
abolished
verb
Core family
abolition
noun B2
Related words
abolitionist
noun
Advanced or less common
abolishment
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.