How To Pronounce Abstract

The stress in abstract moves depending on how the word is used.

Adjective, noun. It is /ˈæb.strækt/ in British English and /ˈæb.strækt/ in American English with the main stress on the first syllable, as in “an abstract idea”.

Verb. It is /æbˈstrækt/ in British English and /æbˈstrækt/ in American English with the main stress on the second syllable, as in “to abstract”.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.