abate

verb

ə-ˈbāt 

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 sense 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 sense 1

abater noun

Synonyms

• subside
• decrease
• diminish

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

Days of record temperatures to abate by midweek The heat dome unleashing stifling heat across the Pacific Northwest is expected to ease by Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. —Christopher Cann, USA Today, 11 June 2025

After the hearings, the council voted to approve resolutions declaring all three properties public nuisances, condemning the structures and giving the property owners 30 days to abate the issues. —Lynn Kutter, Arkansas Online, 6 June 2025

In response to the tax attorney’s appeals protest, the agency agreed to abate all but approximately $35,000 of the penalties. —Matthew L. Roberts, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025

The regulatory and weather delays abated, and the Australian Space Agency issued its final approval for Gilmour's launch last week. —ArsTechnica, 14 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for abate

• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate
• castrate

Kids Definition

abate

verb

ə-ˈbāt 

abated; abating

: to make or become less

the wind abated

abated their prices

abater noun

Legal Definition

abate

verb

ə-ˈbāt 

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.

Etymology

Old French abattre, literally, to knock down, from a-, prefix stressing result + battre to beat