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  • Noun

abandon

uh-BAN-duhn

Context
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Walking barefoot in the rain seemed like an act of carefree abandon or impulsiveness after studying in the library all day. With uncharacteristic abandon, Serena swung her sandals in her hand as she walked through puddles and allowed the rain to wash over her. Acting with such abandon was unlike her on a normal, working day, and she enjoyed the rare sense of freedom it brought.

Quiz: What does abandon mean?

  • Loneliness that lasts a long time.
  • Excitement about a new challenge.
  • Freedom from staying in control.

Memory Hook
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Abandon A Band On Harry's parents didn't like it when he listened to his favorite loud band. They reasoned that when Harry's band was on, he was acting both literally with a band on, and henceforth with abandon, because they had instructed him not to do so.

Examples
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  • Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all. — Harriet Van Horne, American newspaper columnist Harriet van horne, american newspaper columnist
  • They would hit only 67 home runs as a team that year. But with Whitey Herzog pushing hard, they ran with wild abandon. — Sports Illustrated
  • [Unica] Zürn might have been in terrible emotional pain—she made most of her drawings during hospital stays—but the feeling is more of happy abandon than of fear or depression. — The New York Times
  • In _Samurai Warriors: Chronicle,_ Tecmo Koei’s classic tale of superpowered feudal lords and the armies of hapless foot soldiers they mowed down with reckless abandon returns on 3DS. In 3D! — Wired

Word Ingredients
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a- to, towards, at
bandon control

The idea here is that, when one acts with abandon, one is no longer personally in control, but one’s rational mind is towards or at the control of something else.

Word Theater
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Flight of the Conchords Dancing with complete abandon.
1710

Word Constellation
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Abandon

Word Variants
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abandon v leave behind
abandonment n exuberance; total surrender of personal constraints