abate

play

verb \ə-ˈbāt\

Definition of abate

abated

;

abating

intransitive verb
1 : to decrease in force or intensity waiting for the storm to abate
2a : 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
1a : to put an end to abate a nuisanceb : nullify 1 abate a writ
2a : to reduce in degree or intensity : moderate may abate their rancor to win peaceb : 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
4a : to beat down or cut away so as to leave a figure in reliefb obsolete : blunt
5 : deprive 2

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

The rain abated for Aaron, and his lap times began to drop, quickly approaching the two-minute mark.

— jonathan m. gitlin, Ars Technica, "The agony and ecstasy of (grassroots) racing", 3 July 2017
Oil prices this week plunged into a bear market for the first time since last summer amid signs that the three-year old global glut of crude will take longer to abate.

— georgi kantchev, WSJ, "Five Reasons Why Oil Is Falling", 21 June 2017
Maryland's opioid epidemic shows no signs of abating, even as politicians and health officials scramble to prevent overdose deaths and provide more treatment options for those who are addicted to opioid drugs.

— pamela wood, baltimoresun.com, "Maryland's heroin fight turns to educating students from elementary school to college", 20 June 2017
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s purge of enemies and dissenters following last year’s failed coup shows no signs of abating.

— Bloomberg.com, "Your Evening Briefing", 14 June 2017
Regardless of their verity, allusions to Shakespeare in the political realm and politics in Shakespearian productions seem unlikely to abate any time soon.

— emma talkoff, Time, "'Julius Caesar' Isn't Unique. Americans Love Talking About Politics Through Shakespeare", 12 June 2017
The #OscarsSoWhite furor has abated with the academy’s dramatic and widely praised steps to diversify its overwhelmingly white and male membership.

— josh rottenberg, latimes.com, "Motion Picture Academy CEO Dawn Hudson opens up on #OscarsSoWhite, museum cost overruns, that envelope snafu and being an agent of change", 10 June 2017
Whaley now joins Ohio Attorney Mike DeWine, also a gubernatorial candidate, in pointing a finger at Big Pharma as a principal liability in a health and criminal scourge that shows no sign of abating.

— phillip morris, cleveland.com, "Dayton, Ohio survived crack, now it's fighting to survive heroin: Phillip Morris", 9 June 2017
Redemptions at other firm funds, including Pimco Total Return, have abated or reversed course as performance improved under Ivascyn’s guidance.

— john gittelsohn, Bloomberg.com, "Ivascyn Sees No Sweeping Tax Reform, Infrastructure Spending", 7 June 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!

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

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

play

verb

Definition of abate for English Language Learners

: to become weaker : to decrease in strength

ABATE Defined for Kids

abate

play

verb \ə-ˈbāt\

Definition of abate for Students

abated

;

abating

: to make or become less The flood abated slowly.

abatement

\-mənt\ noun The noise continued without abatement.

Law Dictionary

abate

play

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

Additional Notes on abate

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.