Abstain
/əbˈsteɪn/
verbB2
Definition
Abstain means to decide not to take part in an action or activity, often by choice or for personal, moral, or health reasons. People often abstain from things like voting, drinking alcohol, or eating certain foods.
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See It in Action
To choose not to vote or take part in a decision
- •Several members abstained from voting on the proposal.
- •If you don't like either option, you can abstain.
- •He abstained to stay neutral during the meeting.
To avoid doing something, often for moral, health, or personal reasons
- •She decided to abstain from alcohol during the pregnancy.
- •Many people abstain from eating meat for ethical reasons.
- •He abstained from smoking to improve his health.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "abstain" like "not do" (A1 phrase), but with a clear choice or rule behind it—it's not just forgetting, it's deciding
- ✓Picture someone at a party who chooses not to drink even though others do
- ✓It's the feeling of saying "No, thank you" when offered something you want or are expected to take
- ✓Sounds like "ab-STAIN" → imagine avoiding a "stain" or mark by staying away from something
- ✓Think of a referee in a game who chooses not to make a call because they want to be fair and neutral
- ✓NOT like "ignore" (which means not paying attention)—abstain means actively choosing not to do something
- ✓NOT like "refuse" (which can be more direct or rude)—abstain is often polite or for a good reason
- ✓NOT like "skip" (which can be casual or accidental)—abstain is a deliberate, often serious choice
Try Other Words
- •Refrain: to stop yourself from doing something (Use when emphasizing self-control or stopping a habit)
- •Withhold: to hold back or not give (Use when talking about not giving something, like votes or information)
- •Decline: to politely say no (Use when refusing offers or invitations in a polite way)
- •Avoid: to stay away from something (Use when focusing on keeping distance or not doing something casually)
Unboxing
- •Prefix "ab-" means "away from"
- •Root "stain" comes from Latin "stinere" meaning "to hold back" or "to stop"
- •From Latin "abstinere" meaning "to hold back from" or "to keep away"
- •First used in English in the 15th century to mean holding back from something, especially pleasures or habits
- •Today, used mostly to mean choosing not to do something, especially voting or avoiding habits like drinking or smoking
Reflect & Connect
•When might it be important to abstain rather than just say no or avoid something?
•How does choosing to abstain affect your feelings about a situation compared to simply ignoring it?
Fill in the blanks
1.During the election, some voters chose to abstain because they ___ support for either candidate.
2.People often abstain from certain foods for ___ reasons such as health or religion.
3.Unlike refusing, to abstain is a more ___ and thoughtful decision.
4.When you abstain from voting, you usually do not ___ for or against any option.
5.She decided to abstain ___ drinking alcohol while training for the marathon.
6.Members who abstain often want to stay ___ and not take sides.
7.Abstaining can be a way to show ___ or respect for a difficult decision.