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

• kidnap

Examples of abduct in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Jessica Lynn Lopez is one of three people convicted in the 2012 slaying of Brittany Killgore, who prosecutors said was murdered after she was lured by one of the defendants, then abducted. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2025

Jamal, known as Baby J, was abducted at gunpoint and found the following day, less than 24 hours after an Amber Alert was issued and Milwaukee police designated the child critically missing. —Ariela Lopez, jsonline.com, 21 July 2025

In October 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 hostages. —Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025

To date, she is believed to have been abducted, but extensive investigations have failed to uncover any concrete evidence as to what happened or where her remains could be. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2025

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