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Meaning & use

abdominals

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/æbˈdɒmɪnəlz/
US/æbˈdɑːmɪnəlz/

“abdominals” is a form of “abdominal”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meaning

  1. nounplural

    The muscles in the front of the belly that support the trunk and bend the body forward.

    Grammar: Used as a plural noun: 'My abdominals are sore.' The singular 'abdominal' is an adjective, not a noun.

    Patterns

    • work one's abdominals
    • strong abdominals
    • tone the abdominals

    She does exercises every morning to strengthen her abdominals.

    After the workout, his abdominals felt tight and tired.

    The trainer showed us how to engage our abdominals during the lift.

Word forms

singularabdominal

Common combinations

work the abdominals
The routine works the abdominals and lower back.
strong abdominals
Runners need strong abdominals for good posture.
lower abdominals
This exercise targets the lower abdominals.
tighten the abdominals
Tighten your abdominals as you lift the weight.

Synonyms and how they differ

abs
Informal short form; common in everyday speech and fitness contexts, while 'abdominals' is more formal.
core
Broader term that includes the abdominals plus back and pelvic muscles; use 'core' when referring to the whole stabilizing group.

Word family

abdomen noun
The part of the body between the chest and the hips.
abdominal adjective
Relating to the abdomen.

Commonly confused: abdominals or abominable?

abdominals vs abominable

Sounds similar but means 'very bad or unpleasant'; 'abdominals' refers to muscles.

Practice

Choose the correct word: The exercise mainly targets the ___.

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