abstain

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /əbˈsteɪn/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /əbˈsteɪn/ or /æbˈsteɪn/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form abstain

Third-person singular abstains

Past tense abstained

Past participle abstained

Present participle abstaining

1. To abstain from something is to do without it or to keep yourself from doing it.

   If you abstain from eating candy, you will not be so fat.

Related words

• abstaining
• abstainer