abducted; abducting; abducts
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
Examples of abduct in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The man’s daughter had been abducted decades before.
—
Nicole Acosta, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Plot: The Simpsons are abducted by Kang or Kodos, who either want to eat them or treat them like kings.
—Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Fletcher, who was 34 at the time of her death, was abducted while out on a run in the early hours of Sept. 2, 2022.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
But others noted that Netanyahu’s harsh attacks on Lebanon’s Hezbollah in recent weeks have made a huge difference in restoring Israel’s deterrence, shattered by the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas which killed 1,200 people, with another 250 abducted.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abduct 
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Nicole Acosta, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Plot: The Simpsons are abducted by Kang or Kodos, who either want to eat them or treat them like kings.
—Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Fletcher, who was 34 at the time of her death, was abducted while out on a run in the early hours of Sept. 2, 2022.
—Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
But others noted that Netanyahu’s harsh attacks on Lebanon’s Hezbollah in recent weeks have made a huge difference in restoring Israel’s deterrence, shattered by the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas which killed 1,200 people, with another 250 abducted.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abduct
Dictionary Entries Near abduct
Cite this Entry
“Abduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abduct. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
noun
-ˈdək-shən
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
C. R. Bardeen
also
: to move (similar parts) apart
abduct adjoining fingers
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
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