What does "abstain" mean?

1. (to refrain from an indulgence) to choose not to do something that is usually considered enjoyable but perhaps unhealthy or wrong. 2. (to not vote) to choose not to vote for or against something in a formal meeting or election. 3. (to withhold or keep back) to keep yourself away from something or to hold something back.

abstain — meaning, definition & examples

Q: Is it correct to say "He abstained the vote"?

No — say "He abstained from the vote". Abstain is intransitive and requires the preposition 'from' when an object is present.

Word

01to refrain from an indulgence

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to choose not to do something that is usually considered enjoyable but perhaps unhealthy or wrong.

v. to deliberately refrain from an action or practice, particularly one involving physical indulgence or habit.

“He decided to abstain from chocolate for a month to improve his health.”

“During the religious festival, many observers abstain from meat and dairy products as a sign of devotion and self-discipline.”

Synonyms

refrain forgo desist

Antonyms

indulge partake

02to not vote

C1 · Advanced Formal

v. to choose not to vote for or against something in a formal meeting or election.

v. to formally decline to cast a vote for or against a specific motion or candidate.

“Three members of the committee chose to abstain rather than support the new rule.”

“The resolution passed with ten votes in favour, two against, and four members choosing to abstain due to a conflict of interest.”

Synonyms

decline

Antonyms

vote

03to withhold or keep back

C2 · Proficiency Archaic

v. to keep yourself away from something or to hold something back.

v. to withhold or keep back; in modern usage, this is almost exclusively reflexive or archaic.

“The knight was told to abstain himself from the temptations of the forest.”

“In the ancient text, the protagonist is warned to abstain his hand from the forbidden fruit lest he face dire consequences.”

Synonyms

withhold restrain

The verb is intransitive and takes the preposition 'from' before a noun or gerund.

He abstained the vote

He abstained from the vote

Abstain is intransitive and requires the preposition 'from' when an object is present.

“Federal court minutes show Muehl could remain out of custody pending his sentencing, and he was ordered to abstain from alcohol or marijuana.”

The Guardian 15 Aug 2026

“Yana Iskayeva/Moment via Getty Images For some, abstaining from alcohol can subsequently increase compulsive drinking .”

The Conversation 14 Aug 2026

“Adult usage is holding steady, and there’s no guarantee that young people will continue abstaining.”

The Conversation 17 Aug 2026

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.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

VERB

abstain(C1)

NOUN

ADJECTIVE