abdicate Meaning & Definition
What Does Abdicate Mean?
As a verb, abdicate means To disclaim and expel from the family, as a father his child; to disown; to disinherit. It is also used to mean To formally separate oneself from or to divest oneself of.
Quick Facts About Abdicate
| Part of speech | verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈæb.dɪˌkeɪt// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | renounce, abandon and abjure |
| Antonyms | claim, grasp and maintain |
| Verb forms | abdicates, abdicating, abdicated |
Abdicate Definition (Verb)
- To disclaim and expel from the family, as a father his child; to disown; to disinherit.
- To formally separate oneself from or to divest oneself of.
- To depose.
- To reject; to cast off; to discard.
- To surrender, renounce or relinquish, as sovereign power; to withdraw definitely from filling or exercising, as a high office, station, dignity; to fail to fulfill responsibility for.
to abdicate the throne, the crown, the papacy
- To relinquish or renounce a throne, or other high office or dignity; to renounce sovereignty.
Synonyms of Abdicate
Antonyms of Abdicate
Abdicate in a Sentence
to abdicate the throne, the crown, the papacy
Note: The word abdicate was held to mean, in the case of James II, to abandon without a formal surrender.
Word Forms & Grammar
abdicate (third-person singular simple present abdicates, present participle abdicating, simple past and past participle abdicated)
Words That Rhyme With Abdicate
Origin of Abdicate
Origin 1: First attested in 1532; borrowed from Latin abdicātus (“renounced”), perfect passive participle of abdicō (“to renounce, reject, disclaim”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), formed from ab (“away”) + dicō (“proclaim, dedicate, declare”), akin to dīcō (“to say”). Compare Middle English abdicat (“forsaken, renounced”).
Origin 2: Compare typologically abandon, Russian отказа́ться (otkazátʹsja), отре́чься (otréčʹsja).
Pronouncing Abdicate
The standard pronunciation of abdicate is //ˈæb.dɪˌkeɪt//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Questions People Ask About Abdicate
What part of speech is abdicate?
Abdicate is a verb.
What is another word for abdicate?
Close synonyms of abdicate are renounce, abandon and abjure. See the full list of abdicate synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of abdicate?
Words opposite in meaning to abdicate are claim, grasp, maintain and occupy.
What is the past tense of abdicate?
The past tense of abdicate is abdicated. The present participle is abdicating.