Abandon vs Forfeit their arms armor and horse

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Abandon

Top 2,000 (common) B2 verb

Forfeit their arms armor and horse

Formal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Most formal: Forfeit their arms armor and horse Most common: Abandon

	Abandon	Forfeit their arms armor and horse
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //əˈbændən// 🇺🇸 //əˈbændən//	🇬🇧 //ˈfɔːfɪt// 🇺🇸 //ˈfɔrfɪt//
Meaning	To leave something behind and not return.	Give up weapons, armor, and horse.
Example	They decided to abandon the project due to lack of funds.	The knight had to forfeit their arms armor and horse after being defeated in battle.
Register	Neutral	Formal
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR level	B2	-
Part of speech	verb
Collocations	abandon a plan, abandon a hope, abandon a ship	forfeit rights, forfeit a claim, forfeit possessions
Antonyms	retain, keep, continue	-
Common mistakes	Confused with 'leave' in meanings., Using 'abandon' with non-physical subjects (shouldn't use for people in most contexts)., Omitting the object after 'abandon'.	Confused with 'forfeit' vs 'foretell'., Using it in informal contexts., Incorrectly assuming it applies only to games.
Usage notes	Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. Can imply giving up or leaving something without intention to return.	Used in legal or formal situations when someone loses rights or possessions. Not commonly used in everyday conversation.

See it in real clips

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

we seem to have abandoned all sense of manners and hospitality.

Breaking Bad › S1 E6

We found it near an abandoned car that belonged to one of our snitches.

Chernobyl › S1 E1

What else is left but to abandon even the hope of truth

Ted Lasso › S1 E1

we seem to have abandoned all sense of manners and hospitality.

Breaking Bad › S1 E6

We found it near an abandoned car that belonged to one of our snitches.

Abandon

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

forfeit their arms, armor, and horse

Forfeit their arms armor and horse

Frequently asked questions: Abandon vs Forfeit their arms armor and horse

What's the difference between Abandon and Forfeit their arms armor and horse?

Abandon: To leave something behind and not return. Forfeit their arms armor and horse: Give up weapons, armor, and horse.

Which is more formal: Abandon and Forfeit their arms armor and horse?

Forfeit their arms armor and horse is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Abandon and Forfeit their arms armor and horse?

Abandon is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Abandon: They decided to abandon the project due to lack of funds. Forfeit their arms armor and horse: The knight had to forfeit their arms armor and horse after being defeated in battle.

Can I use Abandon and Forfeit their arms armor and horse interchangeably?

Not always. Abandon and Forfeit their arms armor and horse are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.