Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense abdicates, present participle abdicating, past tense, past participle abdicated
1. verb
If a king or queen abdicates, he or she gives up being king or queen.
The last French king was Louis Philippe, who abdicated in 1848. [VERB]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: resign, retire, quit, step down [informal] More Synonyms of abdicate
abdication (æbdɪkeɪʃən)uncountable noun [usually with poss]
...the most serious royal crisis since the abdication of Edward VIII. [+ of]
Synonyms: giving up, yielding, surrender, waiving More Synonyms of abdicate
Synonyms: resignation, quitting, retirement, retiral [mainly Scottish] More Synonyms of abdicate
2. verb
If you say that someone has abdicated responsibility for something, you disapprove of them because they have refused to accept responsibility for it any longer.
[formal, disapproval]
Many parents simply abdicate all responsibility for their children. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: renounce, give up, abandon, surrender More Synonyms of abdicate
abdicationuncountable noun
There had been a complete abdication of responsibility. [+ of]
Synonyms: giving up, yielding, surrender, waiving More Synonyms of abdicate
Synonyms: renunciation, giving up, surrender, abandonment More Synonyms of abdicate
More Synonyms of abdicate
abdicate in British English
(ˈæbdɪˌkeɪt)
verb
to renounce (a throne, power, responsibility, rights, etc), esp formally
Derived forms
abdicable (ˈæbdɪkəbəl)
adjective
abdication (ˌabdiˈcation)
noun
abdicative (æbˈdɪkətɪv)
adjective
abdicator (ˈabdiˌcator)
noun
Word origin
C16: from the past participle of Latin abdicāre to proclaim away, disclaim
abdicate in American English
(ˈæbdɪˌkeɪt)
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈabdiˌcated or ˈabdiˌcating
1.
to give up formally (a high office, throne, authority, etc.)
2.
to surrender or repudiate (a right, responsibility, etc.)
Derived forms
abdication (ˌabdiˈcation)
noun
abdicator (ˈabdiˌcator)
noun
Word origin
< L abdicatus, pp. of abdicare, to deny, renounce < ab-, off + dicare, to proclaim, akin to dicere, to say: see diction
Examples of 'abdicate' in a sentence
abdicate
The King was going to abdicate to marry an American divorcee.
Thomas, Rosie THE WHITE DOVE (2001)
Here we have a woman who is apparently content to abdicate her parental responsibilities and -- `
Howatch, Susan ULTIMATE PRIZES (2001)
1 (verb)
Definition
to give up the throne formally
The last French king abdicated in 1848.
Synonyms
resign
He has resigned after only ten weeks in office.
retire
quit
He figured he would quit his job before he was fired.
step down (informal)
2 (verb)
Edward chose to abdicate the throne, rather than give Mrs Simpson up.
Synonyms
give up
After a few attempts he gave up.
yield
He may yield control.
hand over
surrender
relinquish
renounce
waive
vacate
She recently vacated her post as Finance Director.
cede
The General had promised to cede power by January.
abjure
He abjured the Protestant faith in 1594.
3 (verb)
Citizens of the world should not abdicate responsibility for the environment.
Synonyms
renounce
He renounced his claim to the throne.
give up
abandon
They were persuaded to abandon their lawsuit.
surrender
She had to surrender all rights to her property.
relinquish
He does not intend to relinquish power.
waive
He pled guilty to the charges and waived his right to appeal.
forgo
The men would not forgo the chance of a feast.
abnegate
The government could not abnegate responsibility for the defects.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abandon
They were persuaded to abandon their lawsuit.
Synonyms
give up,
resign from,
yield,
surrender,
relinquish,
renounce,
waive,
cede,
forgo,
abdicate
in the sense of abjure
He abjured the Protestant faith in 1594.
Synonyms
give up,
deny,
kick (informal),
reject,
abandon,
relinquish,
renounce,
throw off,
forsake,
retract,
disown,
renege on,
disavow,
recant,
disclaim,
forswear,
wash your hands of,
abnegate
in the sense of abnegate
The government could not abnegate responsibility for the defects.