aborted; aborting; aborts
1
: to bring forth stillborn, nonviable, or premature offspring
2
: to become checked in development so as to degenerate or remain rudimentary
3
: to terminate a procedure prematurely
the pilot decided to abort due to mechanical difficulties
1
a
: to induce the abortion of or give birth to prematurely
b
: to terminate the pregnancy of before term
2
a
: to terminate prematurely : cancel
abort a project
abort a spaceflight
b
: to stop in the early stages
abort a disease
aborter
noun
: the premature termination of a flight (as of an aircraft or spacecraft), a mission, or an action or procedure relating to a flight
a launch abort
Examples of abort in a Sentence
Verb
They decided to abort the pregnancy.
abort the launch of a rocket
I suggest that you abort the project.
The mission had to be aborted.
When problems occurred during the launch, it was necessary to abort.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jenny S. Li, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
Washington — The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a regional jet was forced to abort its landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and circle the airport when pilots spotted an airport vehicle on the runway.
—Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
These witnesses pointed to China’s recent progress, including a crew vehicle abort-system test in June, a Long March 10 rocket static fire in August, and a moon lander demonstration, as evidence of a systematic push toward the lunar surface.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abort
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Verb
As more and more eerie changes take place, all pregnant women in the village are forced to abort.
—Jenny S. Li, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
Washington — The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a regional jet was forced to abort its landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and circle the airport when pilots spotted an airport vehicle on the runway.
—Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
Still, in March, a collision alarm sounded in the cockpit of a Delta Air Lines jet when Air Force jets conducting a flyover at Arlington National Cemetery got too close, and in May, an Army helicopter circling the neighboring Pentagon, caused two passenger jets to abort landings.
—Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
These witnesses pointed to China’s recent progress, including a crew vehicle abort-system test in June, a Long March 10 rocket static fire in August, and a moon lander demonstration, as evidence of a systematic push toward the lunar surface.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abort
Cite this Entry
“Abort.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abort. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
Legal Definition
abort
transitive verb
: to induce the expulsion of (a human fetus)
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