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.

Island states Bahamas also changed their position and Antigua and Barbuda, who agreed in April, abstained.

From BBC

A vote in October failed to pass by a 25-24 margin with six guides abstaining.

From Los Angeles Times

The vote was nonbinding, and there were a lot of shareholders who abstained from the vote.

From Barron's

The National Farmers Union, which opposes the changes, had urged Labour MPs to abstain to put pressure on ministers to water down the plans.

From BBC

Anyone who has proudly abstained from the Bravoverse before finding themselves yanked by the ankle, and having their lives and viewing habits changed forever in the process, knows this feeling well.

From Salon

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