What does the term 'abdicate' mean?

• A. To resign from a hobby
• B. To give up a position, usually one of leadership
• C. To fight a battle
• D. To steal something

Answer: (B)

Abdicate means to give up a position of leadership or responsibility, especially a formal or sovereign one. It’s used when someone with high authority, like a king or a higher official, steps down and relinquishes power—often in a formal way. A common example is a monarch who abdicates the throne.

This differs from resigning from a regular job, which can apply to any role and doesn’t necessarily involve relinquishing true sovereignty or ruling power. It also isn’t about fighting a battle or stealing something, which are unrelated actions. So the idea of giving up the leadership position best captures the meaning.