abandon the plan

USAGE SUMMARY

'abandon the plan' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where you decide to stop pursuing or following a plan. For example, "The team decided to abandon the plan after we realised it would be too difficult to implement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet I still wasn't quite ready to abandon the plan.

The New York Times

He was forced to abandon the plan within four months.

The Guardian

The US government called on China to abandon the plan.

The Guardian

Shell would have to pay BG a £750m break fee to abandon the plan.

Independent

I took this as a sign to officially abandon the plan.

The New York Times

But he had to abandon the plan when it became clear China would not approve it.

The New York Times

And the biggest risk comes from those who would abandon the plan.

The Guardian

Reluctantly, he said, he had to abandon the plan as too expensive and risky.

The New York Times - Books

The biggest risk comes from those who would abandon the plan".

The Guardian

Conservationists won a lawsuit that forced the agency to abandon the plan.

The New York Times - Science

In a radio interview last month, she said the government was going to have to abandon the plan as "unconstitutional".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about strategic decisions, use "abandon the plan" to clearly convey a shift in direction or strategy. For example, "Due to unforeseen market changes, the company had to "abandon the plan" and adopt a new approach."

Common error

Avoid using "abandon the plan" when a simple modification or adjustment to the existing plan is sufficient. "Abandon the plan" suggests a complete departure, not a minor alteration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "abandon the plan" functions as a verb phrase, where "abandon" acts as a transitive verb taking "the plan" as its direct object. It indicates the action of ceasing to follow a particular course of action. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "abandon the plan" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that conveys the decision to discontinue a previously established course of action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used across various contexts, from news and media to more informal conversations. While alternatives like "drop the plan" or "scrap the plan" exist, "abandon the plan" serves as a clear and direct way to communicate a strategic shift. When using this phrase, ensure the context warrants a complete departure from the original plan rather than a simple modification.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drop the plan

Replaces "abandon" with "drop", offering a more casual tone.

scrap the plan

Uses "scrap" instead of "abandon", suggesting the plan is considered worthless.

give up on the plan

Replaces "abandon" with the phrasal verb "give up on", expressing a sense of resignation.

ditch the plan

Employs "ditch", a more informal synonym for "abandon".

shelve the plan

Indicates the plan is postponed indefinitely rather than completely discarded.

back out of the plan

Suggests withdrawing from a plan that one was previously committed to.

reconsider the plan

Suggests a review of the plan with the possibility of changing or abandoning it.

rescind the plan

Uses "rescind", implying a formal or official withdrawal of the plan.

renege on the plan

Implies a failure to fulfill a promise or obligation related to the plan.

cease the planning

Focuses on stopping the planning process itself, rather than the plan's execution.

FAQs

How can I use "abandon the plan" in a sentence?

You can use "abandon the plan" to indicate a decision to stop following a previously agreed-upon strategy. For example, "After the initial setbacks, they decided to "abandon the plan" and try a different approach."

What are some alternatives to "abandon the plan"?

Alternatives include "drop the plan", "scrap the plan", or "give up on the plan", depending on the context and the degree of formality required.

Is it correct to say "abandon of the plan"?

No, the correct phrasing is "abandon the plan". The verb "abandon" directly takes the object (the plan) without the need for the preposition "of".

What does it mean to "abandon the plan"?

To "abandon the plan" means to completely stop following or pursuing a previously established course of action. It implies a deliberate decision to switch to a new strategy or goal.