abstain

[ ab-steyn ]
See synonyms for: abstainabstaining on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
  1. to hold oneself back voluntarily, especially from something regarded as improper or unhealthy (usually followed by from): to abstain from eating meat.

  2. to refrain from casting one's vote: a referendum in which two delegates abstained.

Origin of abstain

1
1350–1400; Middle English abste(i)nen<Middle French abstenir ≪ Latin abstinēre, equivalent to abs-abs- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre to hold, keep

Other words for abstain

Opposites for abstain

Other words from abstain

  • non·ab·stain·ing, adjective
  • o·ver·ab·stain, verb (used without object)

Words Nearby abstain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use abstain in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abstain

abstain

/ (əbˈsteɪn) /


verb(intr usually foll by from)
  1. to choose to refrain: he abstained from alcohol

  2. to refrain from voting, esp in a committee, legislature, etc

Origin of abstain

1
C14: via Old French from Latin abstinēre, from abs- ab- 1 + tenēre to hold, keep

Derived forms of abstain

  • abstainer, noun

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