Abdicate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ˈab-di-ˌkāt/ ab·di·cate

Meaning & Definition of Abdicate

Abdicate (verb)

  1. to renounce a throne, high office, dignity, or function
  2. to relinquish (something, such as sovereign power) formally
  3. to cast off, discard

Abdicate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give up (as a position of authority) formally

    "the revolutionary government forced Nicholas II to abdicate the Russian throne"

    similar: abnegate, cede, relinquish, renounce, resign, step aside (from), step down (from), surrender
    related: abjure, demit, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, waive, forsake, give up, hand over, yield, abandon, desert, quit, vacate
    near: appropriate, arrogate, assume, claim, confiscate, seize, take over, usurp, wrest, defend, guard, protect, safeguard, secure

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Abdicate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Abdicate:

abnegate, cede, relinquish, renounce, resign, step aside (from), step down (from), surrender

Related Words for Abdicate

abjure, demit, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, waive, forsake, give up, hand over, yield, abandon, desert, quit, vacate

Near Antonyms of Abdicate

appropriate, arrogate, assume, claim, confiscate, seize, take over, usurp, wrest, defend, guard, protect, safeguard, secure

Word Forms of Abdicate

Inflections: abdicated, abdicating

Derived words: abdicable (adjective), abdicator (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Abdicate

borrowed from Latin abdicātus, past participle of abdicāre, "to resign, renounce, withdraw," from ab- ab- + -dicāre, ablaut derivative of dīc- (going back to *deik-) in dīcere "to speak, state" diction

First known use: 1548t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Abdicate

Frequently Asked Questions about Abdicate

What does "Abdicate" mean?

"Abdicate" means to renounce a throne, high office, dignity, or function. As a verb, it is defined as: to renounce a throne, high office, dignity, or function.

What is another word for "Abdicate"?

Other words for "Abdicate" include abnegate, cede, relinquish, renounce, resign, step aside (from), step down (from) and surrender. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Abdicate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Abdicate"?

There are 23 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Abdicate". Common alternatives include abnegate, cede, relinquish, renounce, resign, step aside (from), step down (from) and surrender.

How do you use "Abdicate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Abdicate" in a sentence: "the revolutionary government forced Nicholas II to abdicate the Russian throne".

Is "Abdicate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Abdicate" is a verb.

Is "Abdicate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Abdicate" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Abdicate"?

"Abdicate" is pronounced /ˈab-di-ˌkāt/ and divided into syllables as ab·di·cate.

What is the origin of the word "Abdicate"?

"Abdicate" comes from borrowed from Latin abdicātus, past participle of abdicāre, "to resign, renounce, withdraw," from ab- ab- + -dicāre, ablaut derivative of dīc- (going back to *deik-) in dīcere "to speak, state" diction. First known use: 1548t.