abstain
v.v. to choose not to do something, especially something you enjoy like drinking alcohol or eating certain foods. It also means to choose not to vote in an election.
v. to restrain oneself from an action or practice, particularly one that is pleasurable; also, to formally decline to cast a vote in a deliberative body. Intransitive — requires the preposition 'from' when followed by an object.
He decided to abstain from drinking alcohol for a month.
During the final vote on the new policy, three committee members chose to abstain rather than support or oppose the motion.
While many doctors advise patients to abstain from high-sodium foods to manage blood pressure, long-term adherence often requires a gradual shift in dietary habits rather than an immediate, total restriction.
First attested around 1380. From Middle English absteynen, absteinen, abstenen, from Old French astenir, abstenir, from Latin abstineō (“to hold oneself back”) from abs- (“from”) + teneō (“I hold”). See also tenable.
The verb is intransitive and takes the preposition 'from' before a noun or gerund.
He abstained the voteHe abstained from the voteAbstain is intransitive and requires the preposition 'from' when an object is present.