abstain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Some said they plan to abstain; others said they’ll hold their nose and vote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
"We must intensify efforts to help people quit tobacco use, avoid cancer-linked infections, abstain from alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, and get more daily exercise."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026
One such location, the city of Loma Linda, Calif., has a large population of Seventh-day Adventists, who are principally vegetarian, abstain from alcohol and tobacco, have close-knit social networks and exercise regularly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Mayra Goulart, political science professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, told AFP the main challenge for Lula and Flavio will be to reach "disengaged voters" who are highly likely to abstain.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
The couple had made few friends during their time in the state, making it easier to abstain from the life of town.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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He, too, said he abstains from getting involved due to the damage illegal mining does to the land, especially as a result of the chemicals used for extracting gold.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
Even if Warsh abstains again, the other 18 senior Fed members are all expected to submit their own dots.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
He clarified that this could mean that the party abstains on any vote for the next first minister after the 2026 Holyrood election.
From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2025
Recently persuaded by her teen daughter, Mae, to join social media, Hahn abstains from reading the comments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 26, 2024
I don’t know if the hose were clean, but I do notice that everyone on the show abstains from drinking lemonade that day.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
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Botelho said Lula will attempt to rally those who cast blank votes, and the 33 million who abstained -- representing 21 percent of registered voters.
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
During that meeting, Mitchell abstained from a vote to put the item on the ballot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
When he was previously an MP he abstained from a 2015 vote on another bill to legalise assisted dying because of concerns over safeguards and people feeling under pressure.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
Nekhaila, who would have been the tiebreaking vote, abstained.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026
She could have made an inquiry or two, as to the expedition and the expense of the Irish mails;—it was at her tongue’s end—but she abstained.
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
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The board voted 4-0 to place binding arbitration on the Nov. 3 ballot, with Mitchell abstaining.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
Some Americans are abstaining for health and wellness reasons, others because of cost.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
In his view, they can "bring young people back to politics", especially those particularly prone to abstaining from voting.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
In 2020, Milan Township passed an ordinance that would allow the project to go forward, with Heath’s brother, the township supervisor, abstaining.
From Salon ● Apr. 27, 2026
Even when Ramadan arrived during the season and I had to play volleyball and fence while fasting from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food and water, I still didn’t want to quit.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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Vocabulary lists containing abstain
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