abstain

/əbˈsteɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /əbˈsteɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /əb-ˈstān ab-/ (ame, mw)

abstain — verb

  • abstainpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • abstainshe / she / it
  • abstainedpast simple
  • abstaining-ing form

1. to stop yourself from doing something you enjoy, such as drinking alcohol or eat

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to stop yourself from doing something you enjoy, such as drinking alcohol or eating certain foods, because you believe it would harm your health or go against your moral principles

例句

Lina's doctor told her to abstain from all alcohol for three months after the liver operation.

abstain from + noun (alcohol)

During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset.

cultural context: religious fasting

同義詞
  • refrain

    lighter and more common; 'refrain from smoking' suggests stopping a habitual action rather than a deep moral or health commitment

  • forgo

    similar but focuses on giving up a benefit or pleasure voluntarily; slightly less formal than abstain

  • desist

    more formal and legalistic; 'desist from doing something' suggests stopping an action already in progress

反義詞
  • indulge

    to allow yourself to have or do something enjoyable, the opposite of restraint

文法句型

abstain from [something]

abstain from [doing something]

用法筆記

Always followed by 'from' when an object appears. The object can be a noun (abstain from alcohol) or a gerund (abstain from drinking). This sense describes a deliberate, voluntary choice — not something done because of an external ban.

常見錯誤

❌I abstained eating meat for Lent.
✅I abstained from eating meat for Lent.
💡abstain always takes 'from' before a following object; it is never used as a transitive verb.
❌The doctor abstained him from sugar.
✅The doctor told him to abstain from sugar.
💡abstain is intransitive; you cannot abstain someone else. The subject must be the person who stops.

2. to decide against casting your vote in an election or formal meeting, neither su

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to decide against casting your vote in an election or formal meeting, neither supporting nor opposing the proposal

例句

Carlos abstained from the vote because he felt neither candidate deserved his support.

abstain from the vote

Of the twenty committee members, fifteen voted yes, three voted no, and two abstained.

intransitive: no 'from' needed when context is clear

同義詞
  • decline to vote

    more explicit but less common in formal minutes; 'abstain' is the standard parliamentary term

反義詞
  • vote

    to cast a ballot for or against

文法句型

abstain (from voting)

abstain on [a motion/proposal]

用法筆記

Common in parliamentary and committee contexts. 'Abstain on a motion/proposal' is the typical construction when referring to the specific issue. 'Abstain from voting' emphasises the action being avoided.

常見錯誤

❌She abstained to vote.
✅She abstained from voting.
💡use the gerund 'from voting', not the infinitive 'to vote'.

3. to be absent from your job without permission or a valid reason, especially habi

3.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to be absent from your job without permission or a valid reason, especially habitually

例句

Aiko abstained from work three days last week and received a formal warning from her manager.

abstain from work (absence context)

The factory supervisor noticed that the same two workers abstained every Monday after payday.

同義詞
  • skip work

    informal American English equivalent

  • play truant

    used for school, not work; informal British English

反義詞
  • attend

    to be present at work as expected

文法句型

abstain from work

abstain from [one's] job

用法筆記

This is a narrower, less common sense found mainly in British English. It specifically implies unauthorised absence, not sick leave or approved time off. 'Play truant' or 'skip work' are more informal alternatives.