abstain from voting

/əbˈsteɪn frəm ˈvoʊtɪŋ/

verb phrase

  1. To choose not to cast a vote in an election or on a particular issue.

    B1

    intransitive; abstain from + noun or -ing formformal

    • "I abstained from voting because I did not know enough about the candidates."B1

  2. To formally refuse to support either side in a vote, without voting against the motion.

    B2

    formal

    • "Although she attended the meeting, she abstained from voting on the resolution because of a conflict of interest."C1

Common mistakes

  • abstain to vote→abstain from voting

    Use abstain from followed by a noun or an -ing form.

Collocations

abstain from a voteabstain from votingabstain from voting in an electionabstain from voting on a motionvote forvote against

Word family

abstainabstentionabstainervoting