abstain

American  

[ab-steyn] / æbˈsteɪn /

verb (used without object)

1. 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

2. to refrain from casting one's vote.

   a referendum in which two delegates abstained.

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abstain British  

/ əbˈsteɪn /

verb

1. to choose to refrain

   he abstained from alcohol

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

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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

Coffee wasn’t a choice: Tanner is Mormon, and adherents traditionally abstain.

From The Wall Street Journal

Although she did not agree a deal for the new budget Jane Dodds, the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader and the party's only MS, said she would also be abstaining on the budget.

From BBC

Some 39% of young men say they had abstained from alcohol.

From BBC

It has been speculated that Scottish Labour could abstain - which would ensure that the Budget bill passed - after leader Anas Sarwar said his MSPs would not make the Budget fall.

From BBC

The basics of a no-spend—or low-spend, depending on your personal definition—challenge are just that: for a predetermined period of time, you abstain from nonessential purchases.

From Salon

Related Words

• cease
• forgo
• pass up
• quit
• refrain
• renounce
• shun
• withhold