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.

“Arbitrators aren’t elected, they’re not required to weigh countywide trade-offs like homeless services, healthcare, capital improvements, all of those things,” said Supervisor Holly Mitchell, the only supervisor to abstain from the vote.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

The basics of a no-spend—or low-spend, depending on your personal definition—challenge are just that: for a predetermined period of time, you abstain from nonessential purchases.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2026

"I think it is more likely that China and Russia will abstain, register their skepticism about the plan and then sit back and watch the US struggle to put it into action," Gowan said.

From Barron's • Nov. 17, 2025

The UK and most EU nations voted to continue the talks, but some countries including Greece went against the EU bloc and voted to abstain.

From BBC • Oct. 17, 2025

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