Abstain
verb
To choose not to do something, often something that is considered bad or harmful.
She abstains from eating meat because she doesn't support factory farming.
Often appears as...
- abstain from voting
- abstain from drinking
verb
To choose not to vote in an election or meeting.
Several members of the committee abstained during the vote on the controversial issue.
Often appears as...
- abstain from voting
- abstain in the vote
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To choose not to do something, often something that is considered bad or harmful.
She abstains from eating meat because she doesn't support factory farming.
Often appears as...
- abstain from voting
- abstain from drinking
verb
To choose not to vote in an election or meeting.
Several members of the committee abstained during the vote on the controversial issue.
Often appears as...
- abstain from voting
- abstain in the vote
Usage tips
Formal
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Personal Choice
'Abstain' reflects a deliberate decision to avoid something, showing self-control.
Despite loving sweets, he chose to abstain for health reasons.
Pro Tip 2/3Moral Stance
People often abstain from actions due to ethical beliefs, not just personal preference.
They abstain from buying products tested on animals.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Permanent
Abstaining doesn't mean forever. It can be for a short period or certain situations.
He'll abstain from alcohol during the month of January.
Pro Tip 1/3Personal Choice
'Abstain' reflects a deliberate decision to avoid something, showing self-control.
Despite loving sweets, he chose to abstain for health reasons.
Pro Tip 2/3Moral Stance
People often abstain from actions due to ethical beliefs, not just personal preference.
They abstain from buying products tested on animals.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Permanent
Abstaining doesn't mean forever. It can be for a short period or certain situations.
He'll abstain from alcohol during the month of January.
Pro Tip 1/3Personal Choice
'Abstain' reflects a deliberate decision to avoid something, showing self-control.
Despite loving sweets, he chose to abstain for health reasons.
Pro Tip 2/3Moral Stance
People often abstain from actions due to ethical beliefs, not just personal preference.
They abstain from buying products tested on animals.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Permanent
Abstaining doesn't mean forever. It can be for a short period or certain situations.
He'll abstain from alcohol during the month of January.
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Video examples
Seafood and Survival PIPE...
billion but this world will never be able to provide for our desires the compelling narrative of conservation is really a story of responsible consumption it's not about what we don't do it's not about what we sacrifice or abstain from but rather it's what we do
Video examples
This one weird trick...
the relationship between eating chocolate and stress. This hypothetical study recruits ten students. Half begin consuming a daily dose of chocolate, while half abstain. As classmates, they all follow the same schedule.
Video examples
Peter van Uhm: Why I...
tips the balance even further. Abstaining from violence becomes more profitable than starting a war. Now nonviolence starts to work like a flywheel. It enhances peace even further.
Video examples
Seafood and Survival PIPE...
billion but this world will never be able to provide for our desires the compelling narrative of conservation is really a story of responsible consumption it's not about what we don't do it's not about what we sacrifice or abstain from but rather it's what we do
Video examples
This one weird trick...
the relationship between eating chocolate and stress. This hypothetical study recruits ten students. Half begin consuming a daily dose of chocolate, while half abstain. As classmates, they all follow the same schedule.
Video examples
Peter van Uhm: Why I...
tips the balance even further. Abstaining from violence becomes more profitable than starting a war. Now nonviolence starts to work like a flywheel. It enhances peace even further.
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Marie Antoinette
French Royalty
It would be doing me great injustice to think that I have any feeling of indifference to my country; I have more reason than anyone to feel, every day of my life, the value of the blood which flows in my veins, and it is only from prudence that at times I abstain from showing how proud I am of it.
Quote examples
James Fenimore Cooper
American Writer
All that a good government aims at... is to add no unnecessary and artificial aid to the force of its own unavoidable consequences, and to abstain from fortifying and accumulating social inequality as a means of increasing political inequalities.
Quote examples
Mahatma Gandhi
Indian Leader
It is the duty of every thoughtful Indian not to marry. In case he is helpless in regard to marriage, he should abstain from sexual intercourse with his wife.
Quote examples
Saint Augustine
Saint
To abstain from sin when one can no longer sin is to be forsaken by sin, not to forsake it.
Quote examples
George Bernard Shaw
Irish Playwright
Virtue consists, not in abstaining from vice, but in not desiring it.
Quote examples
Sonu Sood
Indian Actor
I abstain from trying Punjabi cuisine because it is extra oily.
Quote examples
W. C. Fields
American Comedian
Abstaining is favorable both to the head and the pocket.
Quote examples
Epictetus
Greek Philosopher
All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.
Quote examples
Ali Landry
American Model
We abstained from having sex until we got married.
Quote examples
Ambrose Bierce
American Journalist
When you doubt, abstain.
Quote examples
Marie Antoinette
French Royalty
It would be doing me great injustice to think that I have any feeling of indifference to my country; I have more reason than anyone to feel, every day of my life, the value of the blood which flows in my veins, and it is only from prudence that at times I abstain from showing how proud I am of it.
Quote examples
James Fenimore Cooper
American Writer
All that a good government aims at... is to add no unnecessary and artificial aid to the force of its own unavoidable consequences, and to abstain from fortifying and accumulating social inequality as a means of increasing political inequalities.
Quote examples
Mahatma Gandhi
Indian Leader
It is the duty of every thoughtful Indian not to marry. In case he is helpless in regard to marriage, he should abstain from sexual intercourse with his wife.
Quote examples
Saint Augustine
Saint
To abstain from sin when one can no longer sin is to be forsaken by sin, not to forsake it.
Quote examples
George Bernard Shaw
Irish Playwright
Virtue consists, not in abstaining from vice, but in not desiring it.
Quote examples
Sonu Sood
Indian Actor
I abstain from trying Punjabi cuisine because it is extra oily.
Quote examples
W. C. Fields
American Comedian
Abstaining is favorable both to the head and the pocket.
Quote examples
Epictetus
Greek Philosopher
All philosophy lies in two words, sustain and abstain.
Quote examples
Ali Landry
American Model
We abstained from having sex until we got married.
Quote examples
Ambrose Bierce
American Journalist
When you doubt, abstain.
Example 1 of 10
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