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abstain

[ab-steyn] / æbˈsteɪn /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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One such location, the city of Loma Linda, Calif., has a large population of Seventh-day Adventists, who are principally vegetarian, abstain from alcohol and tobacco, have close-knit social networks and exercise regularly.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 26, 2026

Mayra Goulart, political science professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, told AFP the main challenge for Lula and Flavio will be to reach "disengaged voters" who are highly likely to abstain.

From Barron's Aug. 16, 2026

Such “orphaned” voters — those left without a candidate of their party in a general election — are historically just as likely to abstain from voting or to vote based on far less strategic considerations.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 3, 2026

The Labour group is expected to abstain in the vote.

From BBC May 10, 2026

But I have jus enough sense left to abstain.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

Recently persuaded by her teen daughter, Mae, to join social media, Hahn abstains from reading the comments.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 26, 2024

Abby now abstains from video sites and TV, Maggie uses library computers for online access, and Sophia's sponsor keeps her in check when she needs to use the internet.

From BBC Feb. 7, 2024

"But the truth is we know relatively little from this 50%, from this half of the population that abstains from electoral processes."

From Reuters Sep. 2, 2022

Like Trump, the former vice president has pointed to alcoholism in his family in explaining why he abstains.

From Seattle Times Sep. 10, 2020

I wonder why Therese abstains from food, though she is not bound by the nun’s vows.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

In Caracas, some opposition lawmakers abstained from the show-of-hands vote to approve the US deal, arguing that they should be able to view the written terms before making a decision.

From Barron's Sep. 1, 2026

As an MP in 2015, Burnham abstained on another effort to legalise assisted dying.

From BBC Jun. 14, 2026

“I abstained because I did not see sufficient evidence to justify extending this emergency ordinance, nor did I see evidence to eliminate it entirely,” Hahn said.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 3, 2026

Nekhaila, who would have been the tiebreaking vote, abstained.

From The Wall Street Journal May 25, 2026

More than a third of the senators abstained from voting.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

In his view, they can "bring young people back to politics", especially those particularly prone to abstaining from voting.

From Barron's Jun. 3, 2026

In 2020, Milan Township passed an ordinance that would allow the project to go forward, with Heath’s brother, the township supervisor, abstaining.

From Salon Apr. 27, 2026

Senedd members voted to bring in the ban by 39 votes to 10, with two MSs abstaining.

From BBC Mar. 17, 2026

Los Angeles’s city council passed the measure in November by a 12-2 vote, with one member abstaining.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 30, 2025

Even when Ramadan arrived during the season and I had to play volleyball and fence while fasting from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food and water, I still didn’t want to quit.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad




Vocabulary lists containing abstain


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