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abstain

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abstain from

To refrain from consuming something or doing some activity. Katie wants to lose weight, so she has vowed to abstain from sugar.

See also: abstain

abstain from voting

To refrain from casting a vote for someone or something. Many argue that citizens who abstain from voting put the democratic process in jeopardy. Because I didn't like either candidate, I decided to abstain from voting for the first time in my life.

See also: abstain, vote

abstain from something

to avoid some activity or the use of some substance, such as alcohol, drugs, sex, or food. They abstained from hard liquor and any other kind of intoxicants.

See also: abstain

abstain from voting

to choose not to vote either for or against a proposition or nominee. I will have to abstain from voting since I cannot make up my mind.

See also: abstain, vote

abstain from

v.

To have made a deliberate choice not to do something: I abstained from eating fatty foods when I was on my diet. The minister abstained from drinking alcohol.

See also: abstain