Define abate. abate synonyms, abate pronunciation, abate translation, English dictionary definition of abate. v. a·bat·ed , a·bat·ing , a·bates v. tr. 1. To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen: a program to abate air pollution. 2. Law a. To put an end to:... The rain was steady, and as they rounded a corner alongside the estuary, they saw the fires were beginning to abate. ABATE meaning: 1. to become less strong, or to make something less strong: 2. if something such as a price or…. Learn more. Abate comes from the Old French verb abattre, "to beat down," and means to reduce or become less intense or numerous. As an intransitive verb, it is often used with something physically, emotionally, or figuratively violent, as in "the flood of fan mail began to abate."
