abstain — to deliberately avoid or refrain from doing something, especially something enjoyable or unhealthy
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to deliberately avoid or refrain from doing something, especially something enjoyable or unhealthy
Pronunciation (IPA): /æbˈsteɪn/
Example Sentences
- My cat somehow learned to abstain from knocking things off the table... just kidding, that's impossible.
- He decided to abstain from social media for a month to focus on his studies.
- The politician abstained from commenting on the scandal, claiming he needed more information.
abstain
VERB[/æbˈsteɪn/]
to deliberately avoid or refrain from doing something, especially something enjoyable or unhealthy
He abstained from eating dessert to stay healthy.
The student looked at the flashing phone, smiled, and chose to abstain from social media until the exams were over. ("Ah... but stay!" → The temptation says, "Come!" You say, "I'll stay away.")
She abstained from sweets, attained her goal, and maintained a healthy lifestyle.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'abstinere', composed of 'abs-' (away) and 'tenere' (to hold), literally meaning 'to hold away from'. The word entered English through Old French in the 14th century.
Breakdown
abs- (away, from) + -tain (from Latin tenere, to hold) = abstain (to hold away from, to refrain)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat somehow learned to abstain from knocking things off the table... just kidding, that's impossible.”
“He decided to abstain from social media for a month to focus on his studies.”
“The politician abstained from commenting on the scandal, claiming he needed more information.”
“She tried to abstain from online shopping, but then saw a 90% off sale and all her willpower evaporated.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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