abdicate
ab·di·cate
/ˈæbdıˌkeıt/ verb , -cates, -cat·ed, -cat·ing
1 : to leave the position of being a king or queen
[ no obj ] The king was forced to abdicate.
[ + obj ] The king abdicated the throne.
2 [ + obj ] formal : to fail to do what is required by (a duty or responsibility)
The government abdicated [=abandoned] its responsibility to provide a good education to all citizens.
ab·di·ca·tion /ˌæbdıˈkeıʃən/ noun , pl -tions [ count , noncount ]
