1. present participle of desert: abandoning someone or something, especially when they need support

Examples

• The soldiers were court-martialed for deserting their posts.
• She felt guilty about deserting her family during the crisis.
• Many fans accused the star player of deserting the team.
• The captain was found guilty of deserting his ship.
• He was deserting his responsibilities as a father.
• The politician was criticized for deserting his campaign promises.