abated
B2formal, literary, legal, academic
Definition
Meaning
to become less intense, severe, or widespread; to diminish.
In law, to put a stop to (a nuisance) or to suspend a legal proceeding. In architecture, to reduce or slope (e.g., part of a wall).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most often used for intangible forces or states (e.g., fear, storm, conflict) becoming less intense, not for physical shrinking of objects. Often implies a gradual, natural process of lessening.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The legal usage 'to abate a nuisance' is more common in US legal documents. In everyday use, slightly more common in UK formal/literary writing.
Connotations
Both share formal/literary connotations. In business, may imply a positive lessening of risk or cost.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both regions; higher in written, formal, or technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [subject/force] abated (intransitive)The storm abated.They abated the [nuisance/tax] (transitive, formal)The council abated the noise nuisance.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Never/Nor hath abated (archaic/literary)”
- “His enthusiasm never abated.”
- “To wait until the storm abates (literal/metaphorical)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in reports: 'Market volatility has abated.' or 'Cost pressures have abated slightly.'
Academic
Used in social/historical texts: 'Social unrest abated after the reforms.' or 'The fever symptoms abated.'
Everyday
Rare. Might be used in formal conversation: 'Luckily, the wind abated before we set off.'
Technical
Legal: 'The nuisance was abated by court order.' Environmental: 'Measures to abate pollution.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The gales abated by morning.
- The council ordered the landlord to abate the nuisance.
- Her anxiety did not abate.
American English
- The storm finally abated around midnight.
- The city moved to abate the hazardous conditions.
- After the medication, his symptoms abated.
adverb
British English
- None standard. 'Abatingly' is obsolete/non-standard.
American English
- None standard. 'Abatingly' is obsolete/non-standard.
adjective
British English
- (Rare as adjective) The abated rent was a welcome relief. (Past participle used adjectivally)
- The abated noise level was noticeable.
American English
- (Rare as adjective) They paid the abated tax bill. (Past participle used adjectivally)
- The abated fire risk allowed re-entry.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The rain abated, so we went outside.
- Her headache abated after she took some medicine.
- The strong winds abated in the evening.
- Once the initial panic abated, they began to assess the damage.
- The government introduced measures to abate the economic crisis.
- The noise from the construction site finally abated at 6 PM.
- The international tensions showed little sign of having abated.
- Legal proceedings were abated pending the outcome of the appeal.
- The fervour of the debate has scarcely abated since the bill was introduced.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BAIT being taken away – the intensity of the fishing (or problem) is REDUCED. A-BAIT-ed → the bait (cause) is gone, so the activity lessens.
Conceptual Metaphor
A STORM/FLUID is diminishing (The storm of protest abated. The flood of complaints abated.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'abolished' or 'canceled' (отменить). It means 'weakened' or 'subsided' (ослабеть, стихнуть).
- False friend with 'abbreviated' (сокращённый). 'Abated' is about intensity, not length.
- Often requires a perfect tense in English where Russian might use a past: 'The rain has abated' (Дождь стих).
Common Mistakes
- Using it for physical shrinking: 'The balloon abated' (incorrect).
- Using as a direct synonym for 'stop': 'The clock abated ticking' (incorrect).
- Confusing with 'abide'.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following sentences is 'abated' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a mid-frequency (B2) word used primarily in formal, literary, legal, and academic contexts. It is uncommon in casual conversation.
Yes, but less commonly. The transitive use is specific and formal, meaning 'to reduce or remove something negative' (e.g., to abate a nuisance, a tax, pollution). The intransitive use (e.g., The storm abated) is far more frequent.
They are very close synonyms. 'Subsided' often implies sinking to a lower level (like land or water) and is slightly more common. 'Abated' has a stronger formal/literary tone and is often used for forces like storms, emotions, or pain.
Yes, 'abatement' (e.g., noise abatement, tax abatement). It is also formal and used in specific contexts like law, business, and environmental regulation.