abduct

verb

ab·​duct ab-ˈdəkt How to pronounce abduct (audio)
əb-;
sense 2 also
ˈab-ˌdəkt How to pronounce abduct (audio)
abducted; abducting; abducts

transitive verb

1
: to seize and take away (a person) by force
The girl was abducted by kidnappers.
2
: to draw or spread away (a part of the body, such as a limb or the fingers) from a position near or parallel to the median axis of the body or from the axis of a limb
a muscle that abducts the arm
abductor noun

Examples of abduct in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The latest — and ongoing — round started after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killed at least 1,200 people, and abducted 250. Cary Spivak, Journal Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2024 Ukrainian teen abducted by Russia during war shares his story in Arizona Did winter storms help Arizona's water supplies? Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 26 Feb. 2024 Arvada police are investigating a possible missing or abducted child in a gold or tan Honda Accord after multiple people called 911 on Thursday morning to report seeing a girl in distress. Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2024 Zvika Mor, father of Eitan Mor, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on Oct. 7, urged Israel to press on with its war. Susannah George, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024 The militant group al-Shabaab violently abducted doctors Assel Herrera Correa, a specialist in general medicine, and Landy Rodriguez Hernandez, a surgeon, from nearby Kenya in April 2019. Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 22 Feb. 2024 The United States expressed concern that the resolution would interfere with negotiations on a deal to free hostages abducted in Israel. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2024 When Morrisseau was 6, Canadian officials abducted him and sent him to a residential school. Jordan Michael Smith, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2024 Until then the Chinese government had to informally abduct those who resisted its wishes, including publishers of books unkind to the denizens of Zhongnanhai, the famed leadership compound in Beijing. Doug Bandow, National Review, 10 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abduct.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin abdūctus, past participle of abdūcere "to draw (a limb) away from the body," going back to Latin "to lead away, carry off, remove, entice away," from ab- ab- + dūcere "to lead" — more at tow entry 1

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of abduct was in 1765

Dictionary Entries Near abduct

Cite this Entry

“Abduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abduct. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

abduct

verb
ab·​duct ab-ˈdəkt How to pronounce abduct (audio)
1
: to carry (a person) off by force
2
: to draw (a part of the body) away from a middle plane or line that divides the body or a bodily part into right and left halves
abduction
-ˈdək-shən
noun

Medical Definition

abduct

transitive verb
ab·​duct
ab-ˈdəkt, əb- also ˈab-ˌ
: to draw away (as a limb) from a position near or parallel to the median axis of the body
the peroneus longus extends, abducts, and everts the footC. R. Bardeen
also : to move (similar parts) apart
abduct adjoining fingers
abduction noun

Legal Definition

abduct

transitive verb
ab·​duct ab-ˈdəkt, əb- How to pronounce abduct (audio)
: to carry or lead (a person) away by threat or use of force or often by fraud
also : to restrain or conceal (a person) for the purpose of preventing escape or rescue see also kidnapping
abductor noun

More from Merriam-Webster on abduct

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