abate

verb

ə-ˈbāt

abated; abating

intransitive verb

: to decrease in force or intensity

waiting for the storm to abate

: to become defeated or become null or void (as of a writ or appeal)

: to decrease in amount or value

The legacies abated proportionately.

transitive verb

: to put an end to

abate a nuisance

: nullify sense 1

abate a writ

: to reduce in degree or intensity : moderate

may abate their rancor to win peace

: to reduce in value or amount : to make less especially by way of relief

abate a tax

: deduct, omit

abate part of the price

: to beat down or cut away so as to leave a figure in relief

obsolete : blunt

: deprive sense 1

abater noun

Choose the Right Synonym for abate

abate, subside, wane, ebb mean to die down in force or intensity.

abate stresses the idea of progressive diminishing.

the storm abated

subside implies the ceasing of turbulence or agitation.

the protests subsided after a few days

wane suggests the fading or weakening of something good or impressive.

waning enthusiasm

ebb suggests the receding of something (such as the tide) that commonly comes and goes.

the ebbing of daylight

synonyms see in addition decrease

Example Sentences

For a while, in the Cold War's aftermath, the public fascination for espionage may abate, though somehow I doubt it.

John le Carré, Boston Globe, 19 Nov. 1989 At about six, as the heat abated, people began to crowd the streets and marketplaces, and to fill the cafés.

Milton Viorst, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 1987 But his attitude of sullen grievance and simmering fury never abated fully.

Joseph Heller, God Knows, 1984 We waited for the wind to abate. interest in the author's home abated as her novels waned in popularity

Recent Examples on the Web There are no signs that trend will abate any time soon.

Matt Ford, The New Republic, 12 Oct. 2022 While higher fuel and labor costs are not expected to abate anytime soon, demand for air travel is likely to fall off as GDP growth declines.

Tom Stalnaker, CNN, 22 June 2022 Even though conventional wisdom holds that the disruption of oil and gas development should abate after the initial sounds of exploration and drilling go away, the deer seemed to be continually bothered by the ongoing activity.

Gregory Barber, WIRED, 12 Oct. 2022 There are signs that shear should abate over the next 24 to 36 hours, which would allow Julia to take advantage of warm Caribbean Sea surface temperatures and intensify.

Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2022 Last year, as inflation rose from annual rates of 5% toward 8% and more, Chairman Powell insisted in front of Congress and the public that the price pressure would soon abate.

Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 15 Aug. 2022 Two is that the crisis of trust in American media outlets won’t abate until Fox News’s sleazy commentary abates.

Erik Wemple, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2022 Those include one analyst, who accurately predicted the market bottom in 2018, saying sub-$10,000 Bitcoin is a real possibility by year’s end, especially if Europe’s economic and energy crises don’t abate.

Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2022 June, at the onset of an annual wave of over 3 million visitors that doesn’t abate until fall, is one of Yellowstone’s busiest months.

Amy Beth Hanson, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 June 2022 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abaten, borrowed from Anglo-French abatre "to strike down, fell, reduce, put an end to," from a-, prefix in transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + batre "to beat," going back to Latin battuere, of uncertain origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of abate was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Abate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abate. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

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Kids Definition

abate

verb

ə-ˈbāt

abated; abating

: to make or become less

the wind abated

abated their prices

abater noun

Legal Definition

abate

verb

ə-ˈbāt

abated; abating

transitive verb

: to put an end to or do away with

abate a nuisance

: to make void : nullify

abate an action

: to reduce in amount especially proportionately

abate a tax

intransitive verb

: to become defeated or become null or void

when a public officer who is a party to an appeal…in an official capacity dies…the action does not abate

Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 43

: to decrease in amount or value

the legacies abated proportionately

Note: A problem arises in estate law when the amount of the bequests and devises made in a will exceeds the assets available in the estate. In such a case, some or all of the bequests and devises may have to be abated to make up the deficit. Under the Uniform Probate Code, property in the estate that is not given under the will abates first, residuary devises abate second, general devises abate third, and specific devises abate last.