ABDICATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does abdicate mean? 

• ABDICATE (verb)
  The verb ABDICATE has 1 sense:

1. give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations

  Familiarity information: ABDICATE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ABDICATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they abdicate    ... he / she / it abdicates   
Past simple: abdicated   
Past participle: abdicated   
-ing form: abdicating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give up, such as power, as of monarchs and emperors, or duties and obligations

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

abdicate; renounce

Context example:

The King abdicated when he married a divorcee

Hypernyms (to "abdicate" is one way to...):

give up; renounce; resign; vacate (leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

abdicable (capable of being discarded or renounced or relinquished)

abdication (the act of abdicating)

abdication (a formal resignation and renunciation of powers)

abdicator (one who formally relinquishes an office or responsibility)

 Context examples 

In America, as everyone knows, girls early sign the declaration of independence, and enjoy their freedom with republican zest, but the young matrons usually abdicate with the first heir to the throne and go into a seclusion almost as close as a French nunnery, though by no means as quiet.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)