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
Anyway, back to abducting the president of Venezuela.
—
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
The stakes were made clear from the outset as Maduro, who took copious notes throughout the proceedings and wished a Happy New Year to reporters in court, repeatedly pressed his case that he had been unlawfully abducted.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
While some believe the children drowned or that there was the involvement of a religious cult, the most prevalent theory is that the children were abducted by the man they were spotted with on the beach.
—Makena Gera, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
Stephen Kabirat, spokesman for the Catholic Church of Kontagora Diocese where the attack happened, told local media that the gunmen killed more than 40 people and that some of those abducted were children.
—CNN Money, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abduct
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Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
The stakes were made clear from the outset as Maduro, who took copious notes throughout the proceedings and wished a Happy New Year to reporters in court, repeatedly pressed his case that he had been unlawfully abducted.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 5 Jan. 2026
While some believe the children drowned or that there was the involvement of a religious cult, the most prevalent theory is that the children were abducted by the man they were spotted with on the beach.
—Makena Gera, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
Stephen Kabirat, spokesman for the Catholic Church of Kontagora Diocese where the attack happened, told local media that the gunmen killed more than 40 people and that some of those abducted were children.
—CNN Money, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abduct
Cite this Entry
“Abduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abduct. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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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