abandoned

An abandoned place or thing has been left alone and forgotten by its owner.

Imagine walking into an old house that's been empty for years. The furniture is still there, but it's covered in dust and cobwebs. Maybe some windows are broken, and the garden is overgrown with weeds. That house would be an example of a place being abandoned. It's not just about the physical state, though - often people feel like they're also abandoning their responsibilities or dreams when they leave them behind.

The word "abandoned" can have different shades of meaning depending on how it's used. If you abandon something, you're usually leaving it to fend for itself without taking care of it anymore. But if someone abandons a relationship, it's more about walking away from the other person - they might feel hurt or rejected.

For example, "The city abandoned the old building" implies that nobody is responsible for fixing it up or keeping it safe anymore. On the other hand, "He abandoned his job to travel around the world" means he left his work and responsibilities behind to start fresh in a new place.