abandon

n.

abandon

v.

1. To give up

   relinquish, leave off, withdraw from, discontinue, quit, give over, break off, throw over, throw off, let go, cease, desist, renounce, forgo, forswear, dispense with, lay down, cast aside, cast off, cast away, discard, give away, hand over, part with, surrender, forfeit, yield, deliver, cede, lay aside, concede, waive, abdicate, resign, disclaim, back down from, back out of, go back on, break with, break, drop, lose hope of, despair of, have done with, be done with, secede from, bow out, pull out, apostatize, quitclaim, break the pattern, break the habit, chuck*, throw in the towel, throw in the sponge*, cop out*, hang up the fiddle*.

2. To leave a person, place, or thing in trouble

   desert, forsake, leave, quit, back out on, run away, break with, break up with, defect, reject, disown, cast off, ostracize, maroon, strand, have done with, be done with, depart from, flee, vacate, evacuate, throw over, throw overboard, jettison, leave behind, slip away from, turn one's back on, stand up*, leave in the lurch*, leave high and dry*, walk out on*, run out on*, skip out on*, fink out on*, take a powder*, duck out*, bolt*, bail out*, turn tail*, leave flat*, leave in the cold*, drop*, ditch*, bid a long farewell*.

   Antonyms cherish*, uphold*, protect.

abandon implies leaving a person or thing, either as a final, necessary measure to abandon a drought area or as a complete rejection of one's responsibilities, claims, etc. she abandoned her child; desert emphasizes leaving in willful violation, as of one's obligation or oath the soldier deserted his post; forsake stresses renouncing a person or thing formerly dear to one to forsake one's friends or ideals; quit, meaning to leave or give up I quit my job, is also commonly used now simply to mean stop