abstain

/əbˈsteɪn/

verb

  1. to deliberately choose not to do or have something, especially something enjoyable or unhealthy

    B1

    intransitive; abstain from + noun or gerundformal

    • "He decided to abstain from alcohol for a month."B1
    • "The doctor advised her to abstain from eating before the operation."B2
    • "Many people abstain from eating meat for health or ethical reasons."B2

  2. to choose not to vote in a decision

    C1

    intransitiveformal

    • "Two members abstained from the vote."B2
    • "Several delegates abstained because they could not support either proposal."C1

Common mistakes

  • abstain to vote→abstain from voting

    Use abstain from + noun or -ing form, not abstain to + verb.

Collocations

abstain from alcoholabstain from votingabstain from eatingabstain from food

Word family

abstentionabstinentabstainerabstaining