From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishabandona‧ban‧don1 /əˈbændən/ ●●○ W3 AWL verb [transitive] 1 LEAVE A RELATIONSHIPto leave someone, especially someone you are responsible for → abandoned How could she abandon her own child?2 LEAVE A PLACEto go away from a place, vehicle etc permanently, especially because the situation makes it impossible for you to stay SYN leave, → abandoned 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 STOP DOING somethingto 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 STOP DOING somethingto 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 something6 → abandon ship —abandonment noun [uncountable]→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
abandon• It will offer a fair rates policy that gives 100 percent. rates relief to people whom the present Government have abandoned.• All attempts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict have now been abandoned.• I wanted to be accurate about it and in order to be accurate, you have to abandon all restrictions.• But if the general were the unclear, we could with reason abandon all science and inquiry.• Long-term research projects within companies will most likely be abandoned altogether or sharply reduced.• The 9-year-old boy was abandoned by his alcoholic father.• Education leaders do not want to abandon California's commitment to affordable college education.• The volcano eruption forced the U.S. to abandon Clark Air Force Base.• Sometimes Doogan abandons her classical re-visions altogether and heads into surrealism.• My sister abandoned her husband and three children and went to live in Holland.• Knighton is reported to be ready to abandon his takeover bid.• The government has now abandoned its plans to privatize parts of the health service.• a home for abandoned kittens and puppies• There was increased pressure on North Korea to abandon nuclear arms development.• A new-born baby was found abandoned on the steps of a hospital yesterday.• The baby was found abandoned outside a local mosque.• The suspect abandoned the car at Llewellyn and Hamilton Avenues.• Republicans, meanwhile, are mulling whether to abandon the notion of filing ethics charges against Rep.• Owing to rough weather, the coast guard had been forced to abandon the search.• So, intellectually unfashionable but undaunted, the idea of Utopia abandoned the world altogether and was launched into space.• Retreating troops were told to abandon their weapons and run as fast as they could towards the beach.abandoned ... idea• The theory therefore had to be abandoned.• Whatever the reason, the planners abandoned the idea.• Why have you abandoned the idea?• With a sense of relief I abandoned my idea of escape.• Jess abandoned all idea of water and ran out along the path and through the gateway with Salt limping behind.• After discreet soundings, they prudently abandoned the idea, which would have involved a major encroachment upon judicial independence.abandoned ... hope• She had long since abandoned that hope.• She had abandoned all hope of getting her contract down in black and white!• At three in the morning, she abandoned any hope of getting to sleep.• But the plaintiffs, local authorities and anti-nuclear associations must have abandoned hope of success long ago.• The Raiders finally abandoned hope of turning Ismail into a productive wide receiver.abandonabandon2 noun [uncountable] CONTROLif someone does something with abandon, they behave in a careless or uncontrolled way, without thinking or caring about what they are doingwith reckless/wild abandon They drank and smoked with reckless abandon.Examples from the Corpus
abandon• By most people's standards Marilyn Monroe was fairly uninhibited; bathing infrequently, and belching and farting with carefree abandon.• Rather than joyous abandon, I am full of thought.• They fired away with wild abandon, but luckily with little accuracy, and he was able to extricate himself.• Both sides fought with abandon, crimson water swirling round their knees.• He scratches and gouges with abandon in the fluent paint.• It gained and lost with abandon, crushing the Harrisons with embarrassment.with reckless/wild abandon• They fired away with wild abandon, but luckily with little accuracy, and he was able to extricate himself.• Gritting her teeth, she lowered her head, and barged through them, swinging the cable-cutters with wild abandon.• Then all the bells joined in with wild abandon, ringing joyfully and merrily, welcoming in the New Year.• Hamilton spent the company's money with reckless abandon.• Now, with reckless abandon, it promises to meddle with local-government structure.• They shoot and blow each other up with reckless abandon.From Longman Business Dictionaryabandona‧ban‧don /əˈbændən/ verb [transitive]1to stop doing or using something because it is too difficult or unsuccessfulThe company abandoned its takeover bid.The power plant was abandoned before it was even completed.2INSURANCE if you abandon a ship or its cargo, you accept that it is too badly damaged to be saved, and so give it up to an insurance company in exchange for an insurance payment3abandon ship to leave an organization because you believe that it is going to fail soonThe chairman and most of the board members had already abandoned ship.4abandon a case/claim/action etcLAW to no longer continue with a legal case etcThey decided to abandon their claim for damages. —abandonment noun [uncountable]Disagreements about policy led to the abandonment of the plan.→ See Verb tableOrigin abandon1 (1300-1400) Old French abondoner, from abandon “surrendering”, from a bandon “into someone's power” 