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
Around 250 were abducted when Hamas stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
—
Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025
Fifteen hostages and hundreds of prisoners have been released so far, and militants still hold dozens more hostages abducted in their Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 31 Jan. 2025
The vehicles were stopped by officers, and the woman who was allegedly abducted was taken from the Toyota.
—Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 28 Jan. 2025
The female soldiers were all abducted from the Nahal Oz base during the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel which sparked the war in the region after more than 1,200 Israelis were killed and some 250 people taken hostage.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 25 Jan. 2025
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Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2025
Fifteen hostages and hundreds of prisoners have been released so far, and militants still hold dozens more hostages abducted in their Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 31 Jan. 2025
The vehicles were stopped by officers, and the woman who was allegedly abducted was taken from the Toyota.
—Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 28 Jan. 2025
The female soldiers were all abducted from the Nahal Oz base during the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel which sparked the war in the region after more than 1,200 Israelis were killed and some 250 people taken hostage.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 25 Jan. 2025
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 8 Feb. 2025.
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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