abstain
9 synonyms and 1 antonym for abstain, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To deliberately not take part in something, especially eating, drinking, or voting.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use abstain
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
abstain from voting
abstain from alcohol
choose to abstain
Etymology
From Old French abstenir, based on Latin abstineo, "to hold oneself back," from abs- ("away from") and teneo ("to hold").
Full origin of abstain →Frequently asked questions
What does “abstain” mean?
The word “abstain” means to deliberately not take part in something, especially eating, drinking, or voting. In plain terms, to hold yourself back from doing something — commonly used for giving up alcohol, food, or choosing not to vote.
How do you pronounce “abstain”?
“Abstain” is pronounced uhb-STAYN (/əbˈsteɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “abstain” in a sentence?
Here is “abstain” used in a sentence: “He decided to abstain from alcohol during training.”
What is another word for “abstain”?
Words with a similar meaning to “abstain” include abjure, deny oneself, forbear, forgo, give up and refrain.
What part of speech is “abstain”?
“Abstain” is a verb.
Where does the word “abstain” come from?
The word “abstain” comes from Latin. From Old French abstenir, based on Latin abstineo, "to hold oneself back," from abs- ("away from") and teneo ("to hold").
Is “abstain” a common word?
“Abstain” is an uncommon word in modern English.
