abduct

verb

ab·​duct ab-ˈdəkt 

əb-;

sense 2 also

ˈab-ˌdəkt 

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

ab-ˈdək-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• kidnap

Examples of abduct in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The three were abducted by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz in the terror group's Oct. 7, 2023, attack against Israel that sparked the war in Gaza now under ceasefire. —Landon Mion, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2025

Horn was abducted with his brother, who is not on the list of hostages expected to be released in the ceasefire’s first phase. —Jalal Bwaitel, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025

Thirty-nine years later, a 62-year-old Michigan man has been accused of abducting the woman in October 1986, Indiana State Police said in a Feb. 11 news release. —Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2025

News coverage trails off until September 2003 A man who lives close to where Asha’s backpack was recovered in 2001 confesses to raping and abducting an 11-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman. —Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 12 Feb. 2025

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

Kids Definition

abduct

verb

ab·​duct ab-ˈdəkt 

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 foot

—C. R. Bardeen

also : to move (similar parts) apart

abduct adjoining fingers

abduction

ab-ˈdək-shən, əb- 

noun

Legal Definition

abduct

transitive verb

ab·​duct ab-ˈdəkt, əb- 

: 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

-ˈdək-tər 

noun