verb

abstain

uhb-STAYN

verb

To deliberately not take part in something, especially eating, drinking, or voting.

"He decided to abstain from alcohol during training."

"Two council members chose to abstain rather than vote."

How to Use Abstain

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo hold yourself back from doing something — commonly used for giving up alcohol, food, or choosing not to vote.

Common pairings

abstain from voting abstain from alcohol choose to abstain

Word Forms

abstained past tense, abstain plural, abstained plural, abstains singular, abstain singular, abstained singular, abstainest singular, abstaineth singular, abstainedst singular

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He decided to _____ from alcohol during training.

Etymology

From Old French abstenir, based on Latin abstineo, "to hold oneself back," from abs- ("away from") and teneo ("to hold").

Synonyms

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abjure deny oneself forbear forgo give up refrain relinquish withhold

Related Words

abandon forgo defeat persevere offspring include announce divulge

Rhymes for abstain

ain rain pain lain gain main vain fain bain Iain Jain Cain

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