abdicated; abdicating
Definition of abdicate
: to renounce a throne, high office, dignity, or function
The king was forced to abdicate.
1
: to relinquish (something, such as sovereign power) formally
abdicate a throne
2
: to cast off : discard
abdicate a responsibility
Test Your Vocabulary
Which Word Does Not Belong?
-
- Which of these words does not mean "nonsense"?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share abdicate
Time Traveler for abdicate
The first known use of abdicate was in 1548
See more words from the same year