abort

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'abort' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this word as a verb meaning to cancel a plan or process. For example, "The team was forced to abort their project due to a lack of resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Since 1973, when the Supreme Court held, tendentiously, in Roe v Wade that a "right of privacy" allows a woman to abort her fetus before it is viable, anti-abortion activists have tried and failed to have that decision overturned.

The Economist

As Fred Barnes notes, the pro-life movement has been stunningly, relentlessly successful in recent years, "vitiating Roe without overturning it", largely by imposing restrictions on abortion (Roe v Wade says women have the right to abort a pregnancy in the first trimester; it does not say that states have to make it easy).

The Economist

That night it made the difference between "go" and "abort".

The Guardian

If poisoning your foetus with alcohol is a crime, why is it not a crime to abort it?

The Guardian - Opinion

A human operator, viewing a video feed, then issues an instruction to attack, fly elsewhere to find a better target, or abort the mission by destroying itself.

The Economist

The enormous fines they impose on violators, and their occasional use of force to make women abort their fetuses, have stained China's reputation globally.

The Economist

Doctors should not lose their licenses for refusing to point out the fingers and toes of a foetus a woman intends to abort.

The Economist

Abort!In fact, the slight housing package was easy to overshadow.

The Economist

His book, "La Sale Guerre" (The dirty war), published in France, alleges that soldiers dressed as rebels massacred civilians (in a bid to turn hearts and minds against the Islamist rebels) and that the security forces tortured many Islamist prisoners to death.Rewriting historyThe trial has turned into a debate over the army's decision to abort the election.

The Economist

That should be enough to abort the referendum.The Organisation of American States (OAS), which has observed the process, is said to have discussed pulling out if what it has called "excessive technicalities" take precedence over the will of the electorate.

The Economist

Americans can marry, breed, abort their unborn children, pay taxes, appear in pornographic films, fight for their country and even vote at that age.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "abort" in technical contexts (e.g., computing, space missions), ensure it accurately reflects a deliberate termination, not just a failure. Use it to indicate a controlled cessation to prevent further issues.

Common error

Avoid using "abort" when a task simply fails or encounters an error without a deliberate decision to stop it. "Fail", "crash", or "error out" are more appropriate when there's no active decision to terminate the process.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "abort" is as a verb, signifying the act of prematurely terminating or canceling a process, mission, or pregnancy. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts ranging from space missions to political reforms.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "abort" functions primarily as a verb, signifying premature termination or cancellation, particularly in technical, medical, and strategic contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical standing. Common usage includes ending missions, pregnancies, and processes due to issues or strategic decisions. While versatile, misuse can occur when substituting it for simple failure. Alternatives include "terminate", "cancel", and "halt", each carrying subtle differences. Best practice involves reserving "abort" for scenarios involving deliberate termination, not just general failure. Given its frequency in news and scientific contexts, understanding its precise application ensures effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terminate

Broader term for ending something, whether abruptly or by design.

cancel

Implies a prior arrangement or plan that is now nullified.

halt

Suggests a temporary or permanent cessation of activity.

discontinue

Indicates a cessation of something ongoing, often a service or product.

scrap

To get rid of something that is no longer practical or useful.

call off

An informal phrase meaning to cancel a planned event.

abandon

Implies leaving something unfinished or unsupported.

nullify

To make something invalid or without legal force.

rescind

To revoke or repeal a law, order, or agreement.

suspend

To temporarily prevent something from continuing or being in force or effect.

FAQs

How is "abort" typically used in a sentence?

The word "abort" is used as a verb meaning to terminate or cancel something prematurely. For example, "The mission was aborted due to technical difficulties".

What are some alternatives to "abort"?

You can use alternatives like "terminate", "cancel", or "halt" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "abort" instead of "cancel"?

"Abort" is typically used when ending something abruptly to prevent further problems, especially in technical or high-stakes situations. "Cancel" is more general and applies to planned events or arrangements. "Cancel" is more appropriate when there is no risk involved.

What does it mean to "abort" a process in computer science?

In computer science, to "abort" a process means to prematurely terminate it, typically due to an error or condition that prevents it from completing successfully. It's a controlled shutdown, not just a crash.