Verb: abstain ub'steyn or ab'steyn
- Deliberately stop oneself from doing or consuming something
"I abstain from alcohol";
- refrain, desist
- Refrain from voting
"Several members abstained from the controversial resolution"
Derived forms: abstains, abstained, abstaining
Type of: choose, forbear, opt, prefer, refrain
Antonym: consume
Encyclopedia: Abstain