abandonner

Senses

1. 1.

   to abandon; to leave

   to leave someone or something behind, typically without intention to return

2. 2.

   to give up; to quit

   to cease or discontinue an effort, activity, or pursuit

3. 3.

   to relinquish; to surrender

   to give up or yield control, rights, or a claim

Examples

• "Il a abandonné sa famille pour partir en Afrique."

  He abandoned his family to go to Africa.

• "Elle a décidé d'abandonner ses études pour suivre ses rêves."

  She decided to give up her studies to pursue her dreams.

• "Ils ont abandonné le projet après plusieurs mois d'échecs."

  They abandoned the project after several months of failures.

Usage

Abandonner is a common, neutral verb used in both formal and informal contexts. It often carries a negative connotation when referring to people (abandoning family/friends), but is more neutral when applied to plans or objects. The reflexive form s'abandonner means "to give in" or "to lose oneself" (s'abandonner à la passion = to give oneself over to passion).