abstain
verb (used without object)
to hold oneself back voluntarily, especially from something regarded as improper or unhealthy (usually followed byfrom ).
was abstaining
-
past progressiveof abstain.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
I sat for a bit with the friend who had told me weeks earlier that she was abstaining altogether, partly as a way to hold myself accountable.
From New York Times ● Jun. 15, 2024
Estes regularly assured his parole officer that, as required by the terms of his release, he was abstaining from business deals.
From Time Magazine Archive
The man who would have proved Balaguer's strongest opponent, ex-President Juan Bosch, was abstaining from participation in the election, and so was his Dominican Revolutionary Party, the country's largest political party.
From Time Magazine Archive
Or, if he was in another mood, he might reflect that perhaps he was abstaining from love for Elspeth's sake, and that made him cheery also.
From Tommy and Grizel by J. M. (James Matthew) Barrie
He was abstaining from too close an examination of his emotions from a prudent feeling that he was going to suffer soon enough without assistance from himself.
From A Damsel in Distress by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
