abandon altogether

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "abandon altogether" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the idea of completely giving up on something, especially if it was previously being pursued. For example, "The team had been making progress on the project, but they decided to abandon it altogether when they realized it would be too costly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

He has a baby with Red, his on-and-off girlfriend, whom he either wants to marry or abandon altogether, depending on the day.

The New York Times - Arts

Casualties on the American side were much lighter, and not long afterwards the British had to abandon altogether their effort to hold on to Boston.

The Economist

She should abandon altogether her "harsh, didactic voice" and use only "the soft musical one", the one he presumably knows better than most.

The Guardian - Books

Better yet, we should abandon altogether the multiple-choice tests, which are in vogue not because they are an effective tool for judging teachers or students but because they are an efficient means of producing data.

The New York Times

Mr. Lindberg does not use themes; he remains too committed to his modernist background for that, too unwilling to abandon altogether his student enthusiasm for Karlheinz Stockhausen, Luciano Berio and Milton Babbitt.

The New York Times - Arts

Plato thinks that, to explain this, we have to abandon altogether the empiricist conception of thought as the concatenation (somehow) of semantically inert simple mental images.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Socks were abandoned altogether.

The New Yorker

Armour has not been abandoned altogether, however.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Or worse, it has occasionally been abandoned altogether during games.

The New York Times - Sports

Many sites are abandoned altogether as interest and energy wane.

The New York Times - Tech

His remarks were unscripted and gave no indication he wanted nuclear energy to be abandoned altogether.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "abandon altogether" to emphasize the finality of a decision to stop pursuing a particular course of action or idea. This phrase adds weight to the concept of complete cessation.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "abandon altogether" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider simpler alternatives like "give up on" or "drop" for less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abandon altogether" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as part of a predicate to express the complete cessation of an action, plan, or idea. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

38%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "abandon altogether" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to emphasize the complete cessation of an action or plan. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While it's most frequently found in news, science, and encyclopedic contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register, it can be replaced with more informal options like "give up on" in casual settings. The phrase's purpose is to convey a decision with a sense of finality, and its usage can add weight to the concept of complete abandonment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely give up on

Focuses on relinquishing hope or effort; more informal.

entirely forsake

Emphasizes leaving something or someone behind; carries a stronger emotional tone.

fully relinquish

Highlights the act of surrendering or yielding something, often a right or claim.

totally discard

Stresses the act of throwing something away as useless or unwanted.

wholly cease

Focuses on the termination of an action or process.

definitively reject

Emphasizes a firm refusal or denial.

utterly renounce

Implies a formal or public rejection of something, often a belief or principle.

irrevocably discontinue

Highlights the permanent nature of the termination.

permanently drop

Indicates a long-lasting decision to stop something, often a plan or idea.

categorically dismiss

Emphasizes a clear and unambiguous rejection of something.

FAQs

How can I use "abandon altogether" in a sentence?

You can use "abandon altogether" to indicate a complete cessation of an activity or plan. For example, "They decided to "abandon altogether" the project due to lack of funding".

What is a more informal way to say "abandon altogether"?

Informal alternatives to "abandon altogether" include "give up on", "drop", or "forget about it", depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "abandon altogether"?

While "abandon" already implies a degree of completeness, using "altogether" emphasizes the finality of the decision. It's not strictly redundant but adds emphasis.

What's the difference between "abandon" and "abandon altogether"?

"Abandon" means to leave or give up completely. "Abandon altogether" simply reinforces the completeness of the act, providing added emphasis. It is similar to saying "completely abandon".