French word

abandonner

Pronunciation

IPA/abɑ̃done/

Meaning

  • verbgive up

Example

Il ne faut pas abandonner maintenant.

You mustn't give up now.

Illustration for abandonner (give up)

More examples

Il a décidé d'abandonner son rêve.

He decided to give up his dream.

Core concept

A hand releases its hold on a plan, commitment, or person and no longer supports it.

Common phrases

  • abandonner son rêve

    give up one's dream

  • abandonner une idée

    give up an idea

  • abandonner ses études

    give up one's studies

Similar words

renoncer: To give up on a goal or plan.
quitter: To leave a place, job, or relationship.
laisser tomber: To stop honoring a commitment or pursuing an undertaking.
baisser les bras: To stop making an effort and give up.

Definition in French

Mettre fin à une tentative, à un engagement ou au soutien apporté à une personne, une chose ou un projet.

Word origin

French abandonner comes from Old French abandoner, formed from à bandon, meaning under someone's authority or disposal, and developed from yielding something to giving it up.

Usage tips

  • Abandonner takes a direct object, as in abandonner un projet, while renoncer requires à, as in renoncer à un projet.

Other meanings

  • leaveverb
  • desertverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word