abstain
verb
ab·stain
| \ əb-ˈstān
, ab-\
, ab-\
abstained;
abstaining;
abstains
Definition of abstain
1
: 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
2
: to choose not to vote
Ten members voted for the proposal, six members voted against it, and two abstained.
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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
But the agency abstained from pursuing even greater punishments like a substantially larger fine and finding CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally liable. — Makena Kelly, The Verge, "FTC hits Facebook with $5 billion fine and new privacy checks," 24 July 2019 Today, countries that used to invariably vote against Israel abstain. — Noga Tarnopolsky, Los Angeles Times, "Netanyahu just passed Ben-Gurion as Israel’s longest serving leader," 20 July 2019 French, a Republican never-Trumper who abstained from voting in the previous presidential election to protest both candidates, then wrote a response in the National Review detailing what Ahmari got wrong. — Ephrat Livni, Quartz, "Conservative Christians in the US are battling about whether to fight nice," 17 June 2019 People briefed on the decision said that French officials and a union representative were the only board members who hadn’t voted for the deal, apart from the Nissan representatives on the board who abstained. — Financial Times, latimes.com, "Fiat withdraws merger bid after Renault delays decision on combination," 5 June 2019 Perhaps technology has messed up all young people, even those who abstain from it. — The Economist, "Cutting adolescents’ use of social media will not solve their problems," 11 Jan. 2018 Both are expected to vote on FLVS matters on Monday rather than declare a conflict of interest and abstain, Cheryl Etters, an education department spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. — Beth Kassab, orlandosentinel.com, "Florida Virtual School set to get new leader picked by Board of Education," 28 June 2019 Council member Barbara Bry abstained from the decision because her daughter works for Monarch. — Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Why these Scripps Ranch apartments will rent for under $1,000 a month," 25 June 2019 Hours later, the bill squeaked through the Assembly by three votes — with 17 Democrats voting against AB 1482 or abstaining from the vote. — Liam Dillon, latimes.com, "How California’s big plans to address housing affordability crashed," 4 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abstain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for abstain
abstain
verb
ab·stain
| \ əb-ˈstān
\
\
abstained;
abstaining
Kids Definition of abstain
: to choose not to do or have something
abstain from voting
abstain
intransitive verb
ab·stain
| \ əb-ˈstān, ab-
\
\
Medical Definition of abstain
: 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)
abstain
intransitive verb
ab·stain
| \ əb-ˈstān, ab-
\
\
Legal Definition of abstain
: 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)
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