abandoned

adjective

aban·​doned ə-ˈban-dənd 

1

a

: left without needed protection, care, or support

an abandoned baby

… she … began to live in what she referred to as the straitened circumstances of an abandoned woman.

—Richard Russo

b

: left by the owner

an abandoned car

: left to fall into a state of disuse

an abandoned field

abandoned property

an abandoned factory

c

: no longer held or thought of : given up

abandoned hopes/dreams

2

: wholly free from restraint

The lower the beer dropped in the kegs, the more abandoned and frenzied the dancers became.

—Don Asher

… unless you can convince them that you are as abandoned a profligate as themselves.

—George Bernard Shaw

Synonyms of abandoned

• deserted
• disused
• derelict
• vacant
• vacated

Examples of abandoned in a Sentence

He led a reckless and abandoned life and died young.

she consciously avoided walking past the abandoned house, with its broken windows and sagging porch

Recent Examples on the Web

Born on May 13, 1958, in California, Sheets appeared on 163 episodes of Storage Wars between 2010 and 2023, vying with other buyers of abandoned and unopened storage lockers being auctioned. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026

The city has been overwhelmed in recent years by an influx of abandoned and stray dogs and puppies. —Alyce McFadden, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2026

Antonia Noori Farzan The Providence Police Department is urging drivers to stay off the road, saying that stuck and abandoned cars are causing problems and preventing the city from getting back to normal. —Eryn Dion, The Providence Journal, 24 Feb. 2026

The abandoned Westminster Mall has turned into a hotspot for vandalism since shuttering in late 2025, according to police who are attempting to raise awareness about the issue. —Lesley Marin, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from past participle of abandounen "to abandon entry 1"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Phrases Containing abandoned

• self-abandoned

Kids Definition

abandoned

adjective

aban·​doned ə-ˈban-dənd 

1

: that has been deserted : left empty or unused

an abandoned house

2

: completely free from restraint

abandoned laughter