What is an abstract noun?

What Is an Abstract Noun? (with Examples)

An abstract noun is a noun that denotes an intangible concept such as an emotion, a feeling, a quality, or an idea. In other words, an abstract noun does not denote a physical object. It is sometimes helpful to think of an abstract noun as a word that names something that you cannot see, hear, touch, smell, or taste (i.e., something you cannot perceive with one of your five senses). For example:

• Consideration

• Parenthood

• Belief

Here are some more examples of abstract nouns categorized alongside conceptual headings:

Feelings: anxiety, fear, pleasure, stress, sympathy.

States: being, freedom, misery, chaos, luxury.

Emotions: anger, hate, joy, grief, sorrow.

Qualities: courage, patience, determination, generosity, honesty.

Concepts: charity, deceit, opportunity, comfort, democracy.

Moments: birthday, childhood, marriage, career, death.

Here are some more examples of abstract nouns: Anger, Anxiety, Beauty, Beliefs, Bravery, Brilliance, Chaos, Charity, Childhood, Comfort, Communication, Compassion, Courage, Culture, Curiosity, Deceit, Dedication, Democracy, Determination, Energy, Failure, Faith, Fear, Freedom, Friendship, Generosity, Gossip, Happiness, Hate, Honesty, Hope, Imagination, Information, Integrity, Intelligence, Joy, Justice, Justice, Kindness, Knowledge, Liberty, Life, Love, Loyalty, Luxury, Misery, Motivation, Opportunity, Pain, Patience, Peace, Perseverance, Pleasure, Pride, Relaxation, Sacrifice, Satisfaction, Skill, Strength, Success, Sympathy, Talent, Thought, Trust, Truth, Warmth, and Wisdom