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Definitions

abstain

[ab-steyn] / æbˈsteɪn /


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.

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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

Mitchell said intraparty matchups in the past have shown 35% of orphaned voters or more simply abstain from voting in that race.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 3, 2026

Whatever Evie’s goals, it’s unlikely the issue will lead its readers to actually abstain until marriage.

From Salon May 8, 2026

Basoo said there had been no change to its "core position that Jehovah's Witnesses abstain from blood".

From BBC Apr. 12, 2026

Though I follow the rules and routines of convent life, Angelina will not allow me to abstain from meat, as the sisters do.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

If not, the foreign country abstains from submitting a formal re-export request, and no diplomatic harm is done.

From Reuters Jan. 23, 2023

Mr Omipidan, on the other hand, abstains from providing commentary on the stories he posts.

From BBC Dec. 22, 2020

Like Trump, the former vice president has pointed to alcoholism in his family in explaining why he abstains.

From Seattle Times Sep. 10, 2020

As they say goodbye, Smith abstains from the fist bump that he and David have always shared.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 22, 2020

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

Norway's football federation abstained and argued the bidding process undermined "Fifa's reforms for good governance" and challenged "trust in Fifa".

From BBC Jul. 6, 2026

While they released the letter spelling out their dissent, the Fed clarified that Bowman had abstained from the vote.

From Barron's May 15, 2026

Eleven states voted in favor, from Greece to Panama, while mediator Pakistan and leftist-led Colombia abstained.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 7, 2026

It was adopted by 123 votes to three, with the UK among the countries that abstained.

From BBC Apr. 7, 2026

Apparently the protections of the treaty were quite strong for those who totally abstained from magic and mischief.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

After five years of abstaining, a giant chip maker has returned to the bond market.

From Barron's Jun. 15, 2026

Los Angeles’s city council passed the measure in November by a 12-2 vote, with one member abstaining.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 30, 2025

Could anyone really be blamed for wanting to avoid even more pain and heartbreak by abstaining from dating altogether?

From Salon Dec. 17, 2025

A vote in October failed to pass by a 25-24 margin with six guides abstaining.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 12, 2025

I remember reading about Pythagoras around this time, and finding some of his ideas curiously appealing—wearing white garments, for instance, or abstaining from foods which have a soul.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt




Vocabulary lists containing abstain


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