Usually means: Choose not to participate, vote.
Definitions Related words Phrases (New!) Mentions Lyrics History Colors (New!)
We found 32 dictionaries that define the word abstain:

General (26 matching dictionaries)
  1. abstain: Merriam-Webster.com
  2. abstain: Oxford Learner's Dictionaries
  3. abstain: American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
  4. abstain: Collins English Dictionary
  5. abstain: Vocabulary.com
  6. Abstain, abstain: Wordnik
  7. abstain: Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
  8. abstain: Wiktionary
  9. abstain: Webster's New World College Dictionary, 4th Ed.
  10. abstain: The Wordsmyth English Dictionary-Thesaurus
  11. abstain: Infoplease Dictionary
  12. abstain: Dictionary.com
  13. abstain: Online Etymology Dictionary
  14. abstain: Cambridge Essential American English Dictionary
  15. Abstain: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
  16. Abstain: Online Plain Text English Dictionary
  17. abstain: Webster's Revised Unabridged, 1913 Edition
  18. abstain: Rhymezone
  19. abstain: AllWords.com Multi-Lingual Dictionary
  20. abstain: Webster's 1828 Dictionary
  21. abstain: Free Dictionary
  22. abstain: Mnemonic Dictionary
  23. abstain: LookWAYup Translating Dictionary/Thesaurus
  24. abstain: Dictionary/thesaurus

Business (3 matching dictionaries)
  1. MoneyGlossary.com (No longer online)
  2. Glossary of Legal Terms (No longer online)
  3. abstain: Legal dictionary

Computing (1 matching dictionary)
  1. abstain: Encyclopedia

Miscellaneous (1 matching dictionary)
  1. abstain: Idioms

Slang (1 matching dictionary)
  1. abstain: Urban Dictionary

(Note: See abstained as well.)

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Definitions from Wiktionary (
)
American English Definition British English Definition
▸ verb:  (transitive, reflexive, obsolete) Keep or withhold oneself.
▸ verb:  (intransitive) Refrain from (something or doing something); keep from doing, especially an indulgence.
▸ verb:  (intransitive, obsolete) Fast (not eat for a period).
▸ verb:  (intransitive) Deliberately refrain from casting one's vote at a meeting where one is present.
▸ verb:  (transitive, obsolete) Hinder; keep back; withhold.

Similar:
refrain, desist, withhold, abjure, hold in, retain, stand back, forbear, hold, offhold, more...

Opposite:
indulge, partake, consume, imbibe

Types:
forego, refrain, renounce, resist, shun, more...

Phrases:
abstain from, opposite of abstain, to abstain, abstain from food, abstain from drinking, more...

Adjectives:
french, future, many, long, virtuous, present, latter, former, best, particular, general

Colors:
    beige,     gray,     white,     taupe,     ivory,     silver,     pearl,     cream,     sand,     ecru


▸ Word origin

▸ Words similar to abstain

▸ Usage examples for abstain

▸ Idioms related to abstain

▸ Wikipedia articles (New!)

▸ Words that often appear near abstain

▸ Rhymes of abstain

▸ Invented words related to abstain

Similar:
refrain, desist, withhold, abjure, hold in, retain, stand back, forbear, hold, offhold, more...

Opposite:
indulge, partake, consume, imbibe

Types:
forego, refrain, renounce, resist, shun, more...

Phrases:
abstain from, opposite of abstain, to abstain, abstain from food, abstain from drinking, more...

Adjectives:
french, future, many, long, virtuous, present, latter, former, best, particular, general

Colors:
    beige,     gray,     white,     taupe,     ivory,     silver,     pearl,     cream,     sand,     ecru



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