MEANING
To choose not to take part in an activity or consume something.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- abstain from alcohol
- abstain from voting
On the page
She abstained from the toast but kept her glass raised.
He chose to abstain from voting rather than endorse either brother.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- abstain
- Past tense
- abstained
- Past participle
- abstained
- Present participle
- abstaining
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- abstain
- Present continuous
- am/is/are abstaining
- Present perfect
- have/has abstained
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been abstaining
- Past
- abstained
- Past continuous
- was/were abstaining
- Past perfect
- had abstained
- Past perfect continuous
- had been abstaining
- Future
- will abstain
- Future continuous
- will be abstaining
- Future perfect
- will have abstained
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been abstaining
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary. Forms: abstain; abstains; abstained; abstained; abstaining Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Third-person singular: abstains.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
Keep a thought for later. Sign in to save privately.