How to Use abbot in a Sentence

abbot

noun
  • The monastery’s longtime guard had set it on fire, even though the abbot had asked him not to.
    — Anton Troianovski, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2020
  • Since then, the abbot has fought, in the courts and on the ground, to keep possession of them.
    — National Geographic, 2 June 2016
  • In one corner of the room, an abbot sat discussing a text with one of the printers.
    — Edward Wong, Orange County Register, 22 Mar. 2017
  • Even the abbot — the head of the monastery, who had served as a monk for 10 years — was found to be using drugs.
    — Bryan Pietsch, Washington Post, 1 Dec. 2022
  • The monks ran away in fear for their lives--all except the abbot, a man who had completely mastered the fear of his own death.
    — Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 4 June 2020
  • They would be led by an older, more experienced person – an abbot.
    — Joanne M. Pierce, The Conversation, 27 May 2025
  • For years, guilt and anguish haunted the temple’s abbot, Ham Tae-wan.
    — Zachary Small, New York Times, 13 June 2025
  • When Kaldi shared the berries with an abbot of a local monastery, the monk ended up wide awake during the evening prayers.
    — Marta Zaraska, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
  • But when Niesen presented the plans to the abbot of the monastery, he was met with hesitation.
    — Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Neither of the abbots or anyone from their temples could be reached for comment on Tuesday.
    — Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 13 Aug. 2025
  • But was the abbot in the corner, deconstructing their work on the Book of Kells?
    — Bill Livingston, cleveland.com, 17 May 2017
  • This is normally done by the abbot of a local Buddhist temple.
    — Jeremy Hart, WIRED, 11 Oct. 2010
  • The former abbot, subsequently stripped of his monastic rank, managed to evade capture and flee the country.
    — George Styllis, Washington Post, 24 June 2018
  • By the 12th century, the abbots of Crowland build a large hall and chapel complex on the site, which still stand today.
    — Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024
  • Next to the monastery sits a second building with four rooms, likely around a courtyard — possibly the home of an abbot or even a bishop in the early church.
    — Jon Gambrell, ajc, 3 Nov. 2022
  • Next to the monastery sits a second building with four rooms, likely around a courtyard – possibly the home of an abbot or even a bishop in the early church.
    — Jon Gambrell, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Nov. 2022
  • The abbots also disputed her claims of being underpaid and forced into long hours of secular work.
    — Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Forbidden by the abbot to experiment on field mice, Mendel began growing peas.
    — James Gleick, New York Times, 12 May 2016
  • But the abbot was also commanded to tailor and soften the Rule’s observance to local needs.
    — Timothy Farrington, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022
  • The two abbots have not spoken out publicly against the demolitions, and have in fact told residents not to oppose the government.
    — Edward Wong, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2016
  • Among the film’s interviewees are two former nuns at the school and the abbot who supervised several of the priests accused of rape and murder.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2025
  • In 1965, to keep him on the vast grounds of the abbey, the abbot approved a state of virtual secession within the monastery.
    — Garry Wills, Harper's magazine, 10 Apr. 2019
  • The temple will cover her medical expenses, Pairat said, citing the abbot.
    — Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
  • Wright was assigned the role of prior, the position just below the abbot, and was responsible for much of the operation of the abbey.
    — Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Zawana Nyarna, an abbot from Taung Pyone, claims that the monks from his monastery and the six others in the village are innocent.
    — The Economist, 14 Nov. 2019
  • The abbot said the temple would cover her medical expenses, according to Pairat.
    — CNN Money, 25 Nov. 2025
  • Prachachat, the assistant abbot of Wat Pho stated that the temple can weather this period without tourists for now, but not for much longer.
    — Brooke Schedneck, Quartz, 4 June 2021
  • In total, the outlets reported that nine abbots and senior monks have stepped down from their roles or been thrown out of the monkhood in relation to Emsawat’s case.
    — Sean Neumann, People.com, 17 July 2025
  • Along with a place in the book and the ear of the local abbot, club bonuses included a parade through the town to induct the new member and a large celebratory dinner.
    — The Economist, 8 June 2020
  • In Thailand, a group of separatist insurgents attacked a Buddhist temple, killing the abbot and one of his fellow monks.
    — Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2019

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abbot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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