Abdicate

/ˈæb.dɪ.keɪt/

Meaning & Definition

verb

to renounce one's throne or position of power or authority.

The king decided to abdicate in favor of his son after a long reign.

to fail to fulfill a duty or responsibility.

She felt she could not abdicate her responsibilities as a parent.

to give up or relinquish a claim, right, or privilege.

He chose to abdicate his rights to the family estate in order to settle the dispute.

From Latin 'abdicare', meaning 'to disown or reject'.

abdicate the throne

to relinquish one's position as king or queen

abdication of responsibility

the act of failing to take responsibility for a duty or obligation

resignation

the act of resigning or giving up a position

vacate

to leave a place that one previously occupied

relinquish

to give up something voluntarily

to give up in a situation

He totally abdicated when the workload got tough.

to throw in the towel

After the third failure, she decided to abdicate her plans.