Deserted — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /di-ˈzərt/ de·sert

Meaning & Definition of Deserted

Deserted (verb)

  1. to withdraw from or leave usually without intent to return
  2. to leave and stop helping or supporting (someone)
  3. to fail to remain with (someone) in a time of need

Deserted (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. left unoccupied or unused

    "we had the deserted beach all to ourselves"

    similar: abandoned, derelict, desolate, disused, forgotten, forsaken, rejected, vacant, vacated, void
    related: ignored, neglected, unattended, untended, castaway, cast-off, discarded, jettisoned, junked, refuse, waste, godforsaken, miserable, shabby, wretched, empty, idle
    near: reclaimed, recovered, redeemed, rescued, retrieved, salvaged, saved, reconditioned, rehabbed, rehabilitated, restored, repeopled

Deserted (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another

    "the volunteer became disillusioned with his candidate and deserted to a political rival"

    similar: defected (from), ratted (on), jumped ship, ran out on, walked out on, went back on
    related: abandoned, abdicated, abjured, apostatized, cut off, disowned, forsook, quit, rejected, renounced, repudiated, spurned, reneged, departed, left, went, withdrew
    near: adhered (to), clung (to), stuck (to or with), cherished, cultivated, fostered

  2. to cause to remain behind

    "deserted the kids at the food court for some independent shopping"

    similar: abandoned, forsook, left, marooned, quit, stranded, walked away from, walked out on
    related: discarded, ditched, dumped, flung, jettisoned, junked, scrapped, shed, shucked (off), threw away, threw out, delivered, gave up, handed over, relinquished, surrendered, yielded, escaped, retreated (from), took off (from), vacated, withdrew (from), abjured, cut off, disowned, rejected, renounced, repudiated, separated (from), sacrificed, distanced, disregarded, forgot, ignored, neglected
    opposite: reclaimed
    near: had, harbored, held, kept, owned, possessed, reserved, retained, withheld, redeemed, rescued, saved

Related Entry: Desert (verb)

Desert is a different word from Deserted. The synonyms below are for desert, not for deserted.

  1. to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another

    "the volunteer became disillusioned with his candidate and deserted to a political rival"

    similar: defect (from), rat (on), go back on, jump ship, run out on, walk out on
    related: abandon, abdicate, abjure, apostatize, cut off, disown, forsake, quit, reject, renounce, repudiate, spurn, renege, depart, go, leave, withdraw
    near: adhere (to), cling (to), stick (to or with), cherish, cultivate, foster

  2. to cause to remain behind

    "deserted the kids at the food court for some independent shopping"

    similar: abandon, forsake, leave, maroon, quit, strand, walk away from, walk out on
    related: discard, ditch, dump, fling, jettison, junk, scrap, shed, shuck (off), throw away, throw out, deliver, give up, hand over, relinquish, surrender, yield, escape, retreat (from), take off (from), vacate, withdraw (from), abjure, cut off, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, separate (from), sacrifice, distance, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect
    opposite: reclaim
    near: harbor, have, hold, keep, own, possess, reserve, retain, withhold, redeem, rescue, save

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Deserted

The most common words with a similar meaning to Deserted:

abandoned, derelict, desolate, disused, forgotten, forsaken, rejected, vacant, vacated, void, defected (from), ratted (on), forsook, left, marooned, quit, stranded, jumped ship, ran out on, walked out on, went back on, walked away from

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Deserted

Words with the opposite meaning of Deserted:

reclaimed

Related Words for Deserted

ignored, neglected, unattended, untended, castaway, cast-off, discarded, jettisoned, junked, refuse, waste, godforsaken, miserable, shabby, wretched, empty, idle, abdicated, abjured, apostatized, cut off, disowned, renounced, repudiated, spurned, reneged, departed, went, withdrew, ditched

Near Antonyms of Deserted

recovered, redeemed, rescued, retrieved, salvaged, saved, reconditioned, rehabbed, rehabilitated, restored, repeopled, adhered (to), clung (to), stuck (to or with), cherished, cultivated, fostered, had, harbored, held, kept, owned, possessed, reserved, retained, withheld

Word Forms of Deserted

Inflections: deserting, deserts

Origin & Etymology of Deserted

borrowed from French déserter, going back to Old French, "to devastate, make uninhabited, abandon, leave," borrowed from Late Latin dēsertāre "to leave, abandon," frequentative of Latin dēserere "to part company with, abandon, leave uninhabited, leave in the lurch," from dē- de- + serere "to link together, join in a series" series

First known use: 1603t

Frequently Asked Questions about Deserted

What does "Deserted" mean?

"Deserted" means to withdraw from or leave usually without intent to return. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to withdraw from or leave usually without intent to return. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Deserted"?

Other words for "Deserted" include abandoned, derelict, desolate, disused, forgotten, forsaken, rejected and vacant. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Deserted" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Deserted"?

There are 74 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Deserted". Common alternatives include abandoned, derelict, desolate, disused, forgotten, forsaken, rejected, vacant, vacated and void.

What is the opposite of "Deserted"?

Antonyms of "Deserted" include reclaimed. Near antonyms include recovered, redeemed, rescued and retrieved.

How do you use "Deserted" in a sentence?

Examples of "Deserted" in a sentence: "we had the deserted beach all to ourselves"; "the volunteer became disillusioned with his candidate and deserted to a political rival"; "deserted the kids at the food court for some independent shopping".

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

"Deserted" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Deserted"?

"Deserted" is pronounced /di-ˈzərt/ and divided into syllables as de·sert.

What is the origin of the word "Deserted"?

"Deserted" comes from borrowed from French déserter, going back to Old French, "to devastate, make uninhabited, abandon, leave," borrowed from Late Latin dēsertāre "to leave, abandon," frequentative of Latin dēserere "to part company with, abandon, leave uninhabited, leave in the lurch," from dē- de- + serere "to link together, join in a series" series. First known use: 1603t.