abscond

American  

[ab-skond] / æbˈskɒnd /

verb (used without object)

• absconds,
  present (3rd person singular)
• absconded,
  past participle,  past
• absconding
  present participle

1. 

   to depart in a sudden and secret manner, especially to avoid capture and legal prosecution.

   The cashier absconded with the money.

   Synonyms:

   bolt, decamp

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abscond British  

/ əbˈskɒnd /

verb

1. (intr) to run away secretly, esp from an open institution or to avoid prosecution or punishment

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Usage

What does abscond mean? Abscond means to leave secretly and suddenly, especially to avoid being caught, punished, or put on trial. The word typically implies that someone has left because they have done something wrong and want to avoid any consequences. Criminals abscond to get away with their crimes. A more informal term for abscond is make one’s getaway. Abscond is often followed by the word with and the thing that the person has absconded with, such as the things they’ve stolen, as in It’s too late—he’s already absconded with the diamond!In a legal context, abscond is often used to mean that someone has left to avoid prosecution or legal proceedings that have already begun. Abscond is sometimes used in a humorous way to liken someone to a criminal, as in Jeff absconded with the rest of the doughnuts or The dog absconded with my cheeseburger. A person who absconds can be called an absconder or an abscondee. Example: The thieves absconded with the loot before the authorities arrived at the scene.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• absconder
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• absconding
  present
• absconded
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• abscond
  simple
• absconds
  simple
• have absconded
  perfect
• has absconded
  perfect
• am absconding
  progressive
• are absconding
  progressive
• is absconding
  progressive
• have been absconding
  perfect progressive
• has been absconding
  perfect progressive

Past

• absconded
  simple
• had absconded
  perfect
• was absconding
  progressive
• were absconding
  progressive
• had been absconding
  perfect progressive

Future

• will abscond
  simple
• will have absconded
  perfect
• will be absconding
  progressive
• will have been absconding
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of abscond

First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin abscondere “to hide or stow away,” equivalent to abs- abs- + condere “to stow” ( con- con- + -dere “to put”; see do ¹)

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Explanation

Abscond is to escape, often taking something along. As a kid, you may have absconded from your lemonade stand — with the coffee can of cash in hand, and your bewildered sister still filling cups for your customers. Abscond is generally used to describe someone running from law or capture, and the word abscond has been in use since the early 16th century — running away and hiding being nothing new. Dogs who get off the leash and dart into the woods are not necessarily absconding; they are simply making a break for it. On the other hand, the Ponzi schemer who went to live in the South of France with his client's money? He absconded.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

abscond absconds absconded absconding

After Tim and Virginia have a confrontation with the ministorage security, they abscond to Oklahoma, where Virginia has plans for a big score.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

It’s a far cry from the sleek criminals of streaming series, who seldom budge from their computers and abscond with millions and billions thanks to a few clicks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2025

GPS devices are generally seen by probation officials, prosecutors and judges as reducing the risk that a defendant will abscond or commit a new crime.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2024

A government source admitted it was possible some could abscond before they were detained.

From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2024

“I’m walking Maya to first period. Unless, of course, you want to abscond with her?”

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

She said the rate of absconds was "coming down substantially", with 57 cases in the year ending March 2025 compared to 143 in the year ending March 2020.

From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2026

If your investment manager absconds with your tokens, or a merchant fails to deliver what you bought with your bitcoin, you’re on your own.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2024

Eve absconds and takes one of her husband’s favorite possessions, a small Renoir painting.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 9, 2023

Rather than discarding the series’ dated gender dynamics, Odyssey at first appears to speed-run right into them: Bowser, Mario’s Godzilla-like nemesis for more than 30 years, absconds with Princess Peach in order to marry her.

From Slate ● Oct. 26, 2017

The Constitution recognizes a hereditary King, the King absconds.

From The Sword of Honor, volumes 1 & 2 or The Foundation of the French Republic, A Tale of The French Revolution by Eug?ne Sue

Anderson was released from Maghaberry Prison to attend the funeral, but absconded from his court-approved civilian chaperone.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

Sean Middlebrough, 33, originally from Liverpool, absconded in October last year after being granted bail for his brother's wedding.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026

Last year, North Koreans absconded with $1.5 billion from crypto exchange Bybit, the largest crypto heist ever.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026

Crypto firms are racing to backstop the industry’s biggest decentralized lender after North Korea-linked hackers absconded with $190 million from the platform.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026

Cora spoke of her mother, Mabel, who absconded one day and left her to the inconstant mercy of the world.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

Speaking on Monday, Long apologised to the family of Karol Kelly and acknowledged the impact Anderson's release and subsequent absconding from prison has had.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

In the 1940s, for example, he sets out to collect scrap iron for the war effort and ends up absconding with a private collection of military memorabilia.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

But was it an egregious, personal error, akin to Totenberg stealing into Alito’s hotel room and absconding with an internal organ, as it has been widely treated?

From Slate ● Jul. 2, 2026

A complaint has been filed against the factory owner and foreman, both of whom are absconding, police said, adding that four special teams have been set up to trace and arrest them.

From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2026

In addition to absconding with twenty-five thousand dollars and giving Milton false hopes of my return, Father Mike was abandoning his own family.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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