Synonyms

abstain

American

[ab-steyn] / æbˈsteɪn /

verb (used without object)

to hold oneself back voluntarily, especially from something regarded as improper or unhealthy (usually followed byfrom ).

to abstain from eating meat.

Synonyms:

cease , desist , forbear

Antonyms:

indulge
to refrain from casting one's vote.

a referendum in which two delegates abstained.

abstain British

/ əbˈsteɪn /

verb

to choose to refrain

he abstained from alcohol
to refrain from voting, esp in a committee, legislature, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

abstainer noun
nonabstaining adjective
overabstain verb (used without object)

Etymology

Origin of abstain

1350–1400; Middle English abste ( i ) nen < Middle French abstenir ≪ Latin abstinēre, equivalent to abs- abs- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre to hold, keep

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Twelve voted against it, with seven in favour and one abstaining.

From BBC

Ms Davies-Jones said she had not abstained but had been out of the country at the time.

From BBC

Specifically, how Gray in September abstained from voting on a bill that would have prevented the shutdown.

From Los Angeles Times

There were 13 votes in favour of the text and none against, with Russia and China both abstaining but not deploying their veto as permanent members.

From Barron's

Conservative MPs Shannon Stubbs and Matt Jeneroux - who announced earlier this month that he was resigning - also abstained.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023