abate
/əˈbeɪt/
Group 3Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To become less intense or widespread; to diminish GRE
Example in Context
The storm showed no signs of abating, forcing emergency officials to extend the evacuation order for another forty-eight hours.
Synonyms
lessendiminishsubside
Etymology
To beat down or lessen in intensity.
- ad- (Latin) — to
- battuere (Latin) — to beat
Memory Aid
🐟Sounds like “a bait”
The fish bit the bait and then ABATED its struggle, swimming lazily like it was on vacation!
Visual Association
🌫️A thick fog slowly lifting off a serene lake, revealing calm waters.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “abate” mean on the GRE?
abate (verb) means “To become less intense or widespread; to diminish”. The storm showed no signs of abating, forcing emergency officials to extend the evacuation order for another forty-eight hours.
How to remember “abate” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “abate” sounds like “a bait”. The fish bit the bait and then ABATED its struggle, swimming lazily like it was on vacation!
What are synonyms for “abate”?
Common synonyms: lessen, diminish, subside.