abstain from alcohol

/əbˈsteɪn frəm ˈælkəhɒl/

verb phrase

  1. to deliberately choose not to drink alcoholic beverages

    B2

    abstain from + noun or -ing formformal

    • "She abstains from alcohol for health reasons."B1
    • "He decided to abstain from alcohol during the month of January."B2
    • "During the month of Ramadan, many people abstain from alcohol."B2
    • "Some patients must abstain from alcohol before and after surgery."C1

Common mistakes

  • abstain alcohol→abstain from alcohol

    The verb abstain is followed by from.

Collocations

abstain from alcoholabstain from drinkingabstain from alcohol completelychoose to abstain from alcohol

Word family

abstainabstinenceabstinent