abate

verb \ ə-ˈbāt \

Definition of abate

abated; abating

intransitive verb

1 :to decrease in force or intensity

waiting for the storm to abate

2 a :to become defeated or become null or void (as of a writ or appeal)

b :to decrease in amount or value

The legacies abated proportionately.

transitive verb

1 a :to put an end to

abate a nuisance

b :nullify 1

abate a writ

2 a :to reduce in degree or intensity :moderate

may abate their rancor to win peace

b :to reduce in value or amount :to make less especially by way of relief

abate a tax

3 :deduct, omit

abate part of the price

4 a :to beat down or cut away so as to leave a figure in relief

b obsolete :blunt

5 :deprive 2

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abater

noun

See abate defined for English-language learners

See abate defined for kids

Examples of abate in a Sentence

For a while, in the Cold War's aftermath, the public fascination for espionage may abate, though somehow I doubt it. —John le Carré, Boston Globe, 19 Nov. 1989
At about six, as the heat abated, people began to crowd the streets and marketplaces, and to fill the cafés. —Milton Viorst, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 1987
But his attitude of sullen grievance and simmering fury never abated fully. —Joseph Heller, God Knows, 1984
We waited for the wind to abate.
interest in the author's home abated as her novels waned in popularity

Recent Examples of abate from the Web

That sentiment doesn't appear to have abated in recent weeks.

— lucinda shen, Fortune, "5 Things to Know About Uber’s CEO Pick Dara Khosrowshahi," 28 Aug. 2017
When the winds abated, traumatized survivors emerged to a wasteland of flattened houses.

— david fleshler, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Hurricane Andrew hit 25 years ago and joined ranks of historic U.S. hurricanes," 23 Aug. 2017
USA TODAY LONDON — Princess Diana remains a revered fashion icon, and the fascination with the style that saw designers from around the globe clamor to dress her shows no signs of abating.

— jane onyanga-omara, USA TODAY, "Princess Diana's fashion legacy lives on in palace exhibit," 22 Aug. 2017
The incessant debate as to who is the best between the Argentine and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo shows no signs of abating.

— SI.com, "Former Barcelona Star Ronaldinho on Why He Says Lionel Messi Is Better Than Cristiano Ronaldo," 2 Aug. 2017
Hacking across the globe has become a regular phenomena with no signs of abating.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Your Roomba's Map of Your House Could Soon Be For Sale," 25 July 2017
West Dundee Village Manager Joe Cavallaro said crews would be putting larvicide briquettes in storm drains to help abate mosquitoes.

— mike danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "Fox River crests in Elgin area," 18 July 2017
The terms of any tax breaks, including for how many years and what percentage of the taxes would be abated, have not been determined.

— ken byron, Courant Community, "Canton Selectmen Consider Tax Abatement Plan," 13 July 2017
There’s a joy that comes with seeing that stuff that hasn’t abated at all.

— daniel d’addario, Time, "Game of Thrones Creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss: ‘We Know What Happens in Each Scene’ of Season 8," 11 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of abate

Middle English abaten, borrowed from Anglo-French abatre "to strike down, fell, reduce, put an end to," from a-, prefix in transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + batre "to beat," going back to Latin battuere, of uncertain origin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

abate Synonyms

Synonyms

decrease, decline, de-escalate, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down) also rachet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane

Antonyms

accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax

Related Words

compress, condense, constrict, contract; evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish; slacken, slow (down); alleviate, relax; flag, sink, weaken; cave (in), collapse, deflate

Near Antonyms

appear, emerge, show up; blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen

Synonym Discussion of abate

abate, subside, wane, ebb mean to die down in force or intensity. abate stresses the idea of progressive diminishing.

- the storm abated

subside implies the ceasing of turbulence or agitation.

- the protests subsided after a few days

wane suggests the fading or weakening of something good or impressive.

- waning enthusiasm

ebb suggests the receding of something (such as the tide) that commonly comes and goes.

- the ebbing of daylight

synonyms see in addition decrease

ABATE Defined for English Language Learners

abate

verb

Definition of abate for English Language Learners

: to become weaker : to decrease in strength

ABATE Defined for Kids

abate

verb \ ə-ˈbāt \

Definition of abate for Students

abated; abating

:to make or become less

The flood abated slowly.

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abatement

\-mənt\ noun

The noise continued without abatement.

Law Dictionary

abate

verb \ ə-ˈbāt \

legal Definition of abate

abated; abating

transitive verb

1 a :to put an end to or do away with

abate a nuisance

b :to make void :nullify

abate an action

2 :to reduce in amount especially proportionately

abate a tax

intransitive verb

1 :to become defeated or become null or void

when a public officer who is a party to an appeal…in an official capacity dies…the action does not abate
—Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 43

2 :to decrease in amount or value

the legacies abated proportionately

Note: A problem arises in estate law when the amount of the bequests and devises made in a will exceeds the assets available in the estate. In such a case, some or all of the bequests and devises may have to be abated to make up the deficit. Under the Uniform Probate Code, property in the estate that is not given under the will abates first, residuary devises abate second, general devises abate third, and specific devises abate last.