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.

Most moderates in the Democratic Party, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer -- who is from New York -- have abstained from endorsing Mamdani so far.

From Barron's • Oct. 28, 2025

Would he at least have abstained instead of voting “yes”?

From Salon • May 22, 2024

"The government should work intensively with countries who have abstained in the past to make the case that the essential values of the UN must be upheld."

From BBC • Sep. 26, 2023

More than a dozen African countries have abstained from United Nations votes to condemn Russia or to call for its withdrawal from Ukraine, with a handful voting in support of Moscow.

From New York Times • Jun. 16, 2023

The greater part of their historians have abstained from the applause of their contemporaries, while they have not the less elaborately composed their posthumous folios, consecrated solely to truth and posterity!

From Curiosities of Literature, Vol. 3 by Disraeli, Isaac