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 crowd did nothing as she was abducted in plain sight.
—
Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2025
Remains of Shiri Bibas returned, family says The latest hostage exchange is going ahead after tensions mounted over a grisly and heart-wrenching dispute triggered this week when Hamas initially handed over the wrong body for Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother of two young boys abducted by militants.
—CBS News, 22 Feb. 2025
Yarden Bibas, Ariel and Kfir's father, tried to protect them and was abducted prior to the kidnapping of his wife and children, the IDF said.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 21 Feb. 2025
Yarden Bibas, the boys' father, according to the Israeli military, had gone out to protect his family and was abducted before their abduction.
—Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abduct
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Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2025
Remains of Shiri Bibas returned, family says The latest hostage exchange is going ahead after tensions mounted over a grisly and heart-wrenching dispute triggered this week when Hamas initially handed over the wrong body for Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother of two young boys abducted by militants.
—CBS News, 22 Feb. 2025
Yarden Bibas, Ariel and Kfir's father, tried to protect them and was abducted prior to the kidnapping of his wife and children, the IDF said.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 21 Feb. 2025
Yarden Bibas, the boys' father, according to the Israeli military, had gone out to protect his family and was abducted before their abduction.
—Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abduct
Cite this Entry
“Abduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abduct. Accessed 15 Mar. 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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