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Definitions

abstain

[ab-stayn] / 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.

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

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

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández issued a statement calling on Catholics around the world to abstain from attending Mass with the group.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

I told him that I intended to abstain while in exile.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

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

Recently persuaded by her teen daughter, Mae, to join social media, Hahn abstains from reading the comments.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 26, 2024

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

From BBC ● Dec. 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

In Caracas, some opposition lawmakers abstained from the show-of-hands vote to approve the US deal, arguing that they should be able to view the written terms before making a decision.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

Mediobanca—itself Assicurazioni Generali’s top shareholder—last year saw an offer for Banca Generali derailed by its own investors, who failed to approve the move after a top shareholder abstained from the vote.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

In March, a resolution was passed at the United Nations recognising slavery as "the greatest crime against humanity" - though the United States voted against the resolution and every European nation abstained from the vote.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026

As an MP in 2015, Burnham abstained on another effort to legalise assisted dying.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026

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

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

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

A joint sitting of both houses of parliament on Saturday passed the bill changing the constitution, which now requires the president's signature, with 200 lawmakers voting in favour, 18 against and four abstaining.

From BBC ● Apr. 4, 2026

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

From Salon ● Dec. 17, 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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