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

This memoir stretches across a quarter century to chart the investigation into the author’s mother’s murder, which occurred in 1986, after she was abducted from a mall parking lot in Oklahoma City. —The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024

Chibok and Yola, Nigeria CNN — They were abducted from school and held in the depths of the vast Sambisa forest for years. —Stephanie Busari, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024

Also abducted from Nir Oz were Shiri Bibas, 32, her husband, Yarden, 33, and their two young sons, Ariel, 4, and Kfir, then 9 months old. —Shira Rubin, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

Modus operandi Cases like the Sanchez murder are common in Venezuela, where gang members often abduct victims suspected of having secret fortunes and torture them in order to gain access to the hidden wealth. —Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2024

Richard Allen Davis, who is locked up at San Quentin State Prison, was sentenced to death for abducting 12-year-old Polly — now known as the first missing girl on the internet — from a sleepover at knifepoint and then strangling her to death. —Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 6 Apr. 2024

The teen had been abducted the day before by her father, Anthony Graziano, who shot and killed Tracy Martinez — Savannah’s mother and his estranged wife — in Fontana during a domestic dispute near Cypress Elementary School. —Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza on October 7 after the militant group Hamas, which governs Gaza, killed at least 1,200 people and abducted more than 250 others. —Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024

The hostage, Efrat Katz, was abducted from Nir Oz, a kibbutz, on Oct. 7, the IDF said in a statement. —Lior Soroka, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024

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