abstain
verb /əbˈsteɪn/
/əbˈsteɪn/
[intransitive]Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they abstain | /əbˈsteɪn/ /əbˈsteɪn/ |
| he / she / it abstains | /əbˈsteɪnz/ /əbˈsteɪnz/ |
| past simple abstained | /əbˈsteɪnd/ /əbˈsteɪnd/ |
| past participle abstained | /əbˈsteɪnd/ /əbˈsteɪnd/ |
| -ing form abstaining | /əbˈsteɪnɪŋ/ /əbˈsteɪnɪŋ/ |
- abstain (from something) to choose not to use a vote, either in favour of or against something
- Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained.
- abstain (from something) to decide not to do or have something, especially something you like or enjoy, because it is bad for your health or considered morally wrong
- to abstain from alcohol/sex/drugs
- abstain (from something) (Indian English) to stay away from something
- The workers who abstained from work yesterday have been suspended.
see also abstention, abstinence
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French abstenir, from Latin abstinere, from ab- ‘from’ + tenere ‘hold’.