aborted

adjective abort·ed \ ə-ˈbȯr-təd \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Definition of aborted

1 : stopped before completion especially because of problems or danger

an aborted rocket launch

2 : failing to achieve the desired result : ending without success : abortive

He made several aborted attempts to escape.

Recent Examples of aborted from the Web

Reporters were not allowed at the NovaCare Complex Tuesday but will be present Wednesday, when the aborted celebration is sure to remain a potent topic.

— les bowen, Philly.com, "Eagles dominate national conversation without saying much, get sympathy and advice from LeBron James," 5 June 2018
Mr Salvini has said the League had booked a thousand town squares to explain the aborted government’s programme, and will now use the bookings for protest rallies of its own.

— The Economist, "Italy’s bond yields rise as it heads for another election," 29 May 2018
The company has already won seven court cases relating to the aborted takeover.

— stephen wilmot, WSJ, "Why Buy Volkswagen When You Can Get Porsche for Less?," 15 May 2018
The investigation into Planned Parenthood uncovered the gruesome practice of disposing of aborted babies in a landfill in Kentucky.

— Washington Post, "Anti-abortion activist shared tips in DeWine probe," 4 May 2018
But the two telecoms seem to think that, despite some aborted attempts, their time has finally come.

— colin lecher, The Verge, "Will regulators approve the massive T-Mobile-Sprint merger?," 30 Apr. 2018
Fresenius offered to delay its decision until Akorn had completed its own investigation, but was turned down, setting up a potential legal battle over the aborted takeover.

— ed silverman, STAT, "Pharmalittle: Fresenius walks away from Akorn deal; FDA bounces a Pfizer biosimilar," 23 Apr. 2018
Rancor over the aborted soda tax dominated much of the latter part of Preckwinkle’s second term as well as the election cycle, both for her post and other seats on the County Board.

— steve schmadeke and dan hinkel, chicagotribune.com, "Cook County Board President Preckwinkle easily wins third term despite pop tax uproar," 21 Mar. 2018
An astronaut famously known for his participation in the aborted Apollo 13 mission to the Moon will be speaking at Space Center Houston next week.

— alex stuckey, Houston Chronicle, "Astronaut aboard NASA's catastrophic Apollo 13 lunar mission to speak at Space Center Houston," 9 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aborted.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of aborted

1611

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Learn More about aborted

Nglish: Translation of aborted for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of aborted for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up aborted? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

aborted

Definition of aborted

Recent Examples of aborted from the Web

First Known Use of aborted

Learn More about aborted

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

skirl

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

What It Means to Go ‘Radio Silent’

The Last Word on 'Finalize'

'Creep': A Skin-Crawling History

Centuries and How to Refer to Them

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Words for Summer: A Quiz

Name More Food!

Name That Thing

SCRABBLE® Sprint

What It Means to Go ‘Radio Silent’

Words for Summer: A Quiz

If the Shoe Fits

Trending: 'Asylum' Trends as Policies Draw Attention

Ghost Word

aborted

Definition of aborted

Recent Examples of aborted from the Web

First Known Use of aborted

Learn More about aborted

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

What It Means to Go ‘Radio Silent’

Words for Summer: A Quiz

If the Shoe Fits

Trending: 'Asylum' Trends as Policies Draw Attention

Ghost Word