What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
disown
Example
The politician disowned his former advisor after the scandal broke. [disowned: past tense]
Example
She decided to disown her family after years of conflict and disagreement. [disown: verb]
abandon
Example
The sailors were forced to abandon ship when it started sinking. [abandon: verb]
Example
He felt like abandoning his dreams of becoming an artist after facing multiple rejections. [abandoning: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Abandon is more commonly used than disown in everyday language. Abandon is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while disown is less common and has a more specific meaning related to family or legal matters.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between disown and abandon?
Both disown and abandon can be used in formal and informal contexts, but disown may be more formal due to its legal connotation.
