abduct

verb

ab·​duct ab-ˈdəkt 

əb-;

sense 2 also

ˈab-ˌdəkt 

abducted; abducting; abducts

transitive verb

1

: to seize and take away (a person) by force

The girl was abducted by kidnappers.

2

: to draw or spread away (a part of the body, such as a limb or the fingers) from a position near or parallel to the median axis of the body or from the axis of a limb

a muscle that abducts the arm

abductor

ab-ˈdək-tər 

noun

Synonyms of abduct

• kidnap

Examples of abduct in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In response, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele sent more than 2,000 troops to Haiti to help rescue the four technicians, who the Haitian government says were abducted. — Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026

Ravana does not appear, Sita is not abducted, and there is no war in Lanka. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

That episode featured the first cliffhanger in Star Trek history and saw Picard abducted and assimilated by an alien race known as The Borg. — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026

Melissa Highsmith was abducted from her Fort Worth home in 1971 and reunited with her family 51 years later. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin abdūctus, past participle of abdūcere "to draw (a limb) away from the body," going back to Latin "to lead away, carry off, remove, entice away," from ab- ab- + dūcere "to lead" — more at tow entry 1

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for abduct

• conduct
• construct
• deduct
• destruct
• induct
• instruct
• obstruct
• aqueduct
• deconstruct
• reconstruct
• bucked
• chucked

Kids Definition

abduct

verb

ab·​duct ab-ˈdəkt 

1

: to carry (a person) off by force

2

: to draw (a part of the body) away from a middle plane or line that divides the body or a bodily part into right and left halves

abduction

-ˈdək-shən

noun

Medical Definition

abduct

transitive verb

ab·​duct

ab-ˈdəkt, əb- also ˈab-ˌ

: to draw away (as a limb) from a position near or parallel to the median axis of the body

the peroneus longus extends, abducts, and everts the foot

—C. R. Bardeen

also : to move (similar parts) apart

abduct adjoining fingers

abduction

ab-ˈdək-shən, əb- 

noun

Legal Definition

abduct

transitive verb

ab·​duct ab-ˈdəkt, əb- 

: to carry or lead (a person) away by threat or use of force or often by fraud

also : to restrain or conceal (a person) for the purpose of preventing escape or rescue see also kidnapping

abductor

-ˈdək-tər 

noun