abstain
Other forms: abstained; abstaining; abstains
If you abstain from something, you restrain yourself from consuming it. People usually abstain from things that are considered vices — like eating French fries every day for lunch.
Roots of the word abstain are from the 14th-century French, "to withhold oneself," and the word often refers to people who hold themselves back from indulging in habits that are bad for them, physically or morally. Abstain can also mean to withhold a vote, and sometimes a difficult decision is stalled when government representatives abstain from voting one way or another.
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choose not to partake in or consume“I abstain from alcohol”
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types:
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fast
abstain from eating
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fast
abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons
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avoid, keep off
refrain from certain foods or beverages
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teetotal
practice teetotalism and abstain from the consumption of alcoholic beverages
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diet
eat sparingly, for health reasons or to lose weight
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diet
follow a regimen or a diet, as for health reasons
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refrain from voting
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Vocabulary lists containing abstain
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Citizens choosing their leaders through regular elections is the foundation of democracy. Whether you're eligible to vote or just following the race, these terms are essential to understanding our political system.