English vocabulary · C1
Abdicate
/ˈæbdɪkeɪt/ · v.
It means to officially give up power or a high position.
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Example sentences
- The old king chose to abdicate after forty years.
- The tired president decided to abdicate his post.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- ab — away (from Latin)
- dic — say (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- RESIGN — leave a job formally (General & Common)
- QUIT — stop doing something (Casual & Direct)
- STEP DOWN — leave a position politely (Polite & Formal)
Words with the same root
dict — say
- predict — to say what will happen before it happens
- verdict — an official decision after a trial
- contradict — to say the opposite of something
Lesson notes
Abdicate. It means to officially give up power or a high position.
Similar words are resign, quit, and step down. Use abdicate when a king or leader gives up power for good.
The old king chose to abdicate after forty years. The tired president decided to abdicate his post.
From Latin. Ab- means away. Dic- means say. Saying power is pushed away forever — that is abdicate.