abstain

verb

ab·stain əb-ˈstān

ab-

abstained; abstaining; abstains

Synonyms of abstain next

intransitive verb

: to choose not to do or have something : to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial from an action or practice

abstain from drinking

: to choose not to vote

Ten members voted for the proposal, six members voted against it, and two abstained.

abstainer noun

Did you know?

If you abstain, you're consciously, and usually with effort, choosing to hold back from doing something that you would like to do. Lucky for you, we’d never abstain from sharing a good bit of word history. Abstain traces back through Middle English and Anglo-French to the Latin verb abstinēre, which combines the prefix ab- ("from, away, off") with tenēre, a Latin verb meaning "to hold." (Spanish speakers might recognize tenēre’s influence in the Spanish verb tener, meaning "to have, hold, or take.") Tenēre has many offspring in English; other descendants include contain, detain, maintain, obtain, pertain, retain, and sustain, as well as some words that don’t end in -tain, such as tenant and tenacious. Abstain, like many of its cousins, has been used by English speakers since at least the 14th century.

Examples of abstain in a Sentence

Ten members voted for the proposal, six members voted against it, and two abstained.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

If a state has an even number of representatives and an even split between Republicans and Democrats, that state's delegation cannot form a majority in favor of one candidate, and that state therefore abstains from voting. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 Oliver dedicated the final moments of the final episode before voting to speak to those specifically abstaining from the presidential election due to Israel’s bombing of Gaza. —

Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024 But instead, many people will abstain or vote for third-party candidates. —

Michael Bruter and Sarah Harrison, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024 Richard Branson leads a life abstaining from one of its greatest pleasures: gossip. —

Lindsey Leake, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for abstain

Word History

Etymology

Middle English absteinen, abstenen, borrowed from Anglo-French asteign-, absteign-, stem of astenir, abstenir, borrowed (with conjugation change, conformed to tenir) from Latin abstinēre "to keep from, hold back, refrain, withhold oneself from," from abs- (variant of ab- ab- before c- and t-) + tenēre "to hold, occupy, possess" — more at tenant entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of abstain was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Abstain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abstain. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

abstain

verb

ab·stain əb-ˈstān

: to keep oneself from doing something

abstain from voting

abstainer noun

Medical Definition

abstain

intransitive verb

ab·stain əb-ˈstān, ab-

: to refrain deliberately and often with an effort of self-denial from an action or practice (as consumption of a food or a drug or indulgence in sexual intercourse)

abstainer noun

Legal Definition

abstain

intransitive verb

ab·stain əb-ˈstān, ab-

: to refrain from exercising federal jurisdiction over a case : cause an abstention

federal courts should normally abstain from intervening in pending court-martial proceedings—

Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, 548 U.S. 557 (2006)

Last Updated: 11 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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abstain

verb

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Synonyms

Examples of abstain in a Sentence

Word History

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Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

Legal Definition