abstinence

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.

Americans remain among the world’s leaders in per capita meat consumption, and even our vegetarians tend to abandon their abstinence sooner or later.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

It concludes a 40-day period known as Lent, during which Christians focus on prayer, almsgiving, and practice traditions such as abstinence from eating meat on certain days.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

"Dead people can't recover, and overwhelmingly the research shows that there's no opposition between harm reduction and abstinence goals."

From Salon • May 24, 2025

"Because Friday was the day of the crucifixion, Fridays were always regarded as a day of penance and abstinence," he said.

From BBC • Dec. 14, 2024

“You don’t eat ’em,” returned Mr. Pumblechook, sighing and nodding his head several times, as if he might have expected that, and as if abstinence from watercresses were consistent with my downfall.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens