What does abstained mean?
"Abstained" is the past tense of the verb "abstain," meaning to have deliberately chosen not to do, use, or consume something. The word carries a connotation of conscious self-restraint rather than mere absence: someone who abstained made an active decision to hold back. It appears most often in two settings. The first is personal discipline, where people say they abstained from alcohol, rich foods, or other indulgences — a usage common in health, religious, and moral contexts such as fasting or sobriety. The second is formal decision-making, where a member of a committee, parliament, or board abstains by declining to vote, often because of a conflict of interest or a wish to remain neutral; such abstentions are typically recorded in official minutes. Derived from Latin roots meaning "to hold oneself away," the word has a long history in English and remains standard in both British and American usage, lending any sentence a slightly formal, deliberate tone.
verb (past tense and past participle of abstain)The past tense and past participle of abstain: to have deliberately chosen not to do or consume something, or to have formally declined to vote.
- To have deliberately refrained from doing or consuming something, especially something enjoyable or habitual (e.g. food, alcohol).
- To have formally declined to cast a vote in an election or assembly.
"She abstained from voting on the proposal, citing a conflict of interest."
"He abstained from drinking throughout his twenties."
"Twelve delegates abstained rather than side with either faction."
In the US Senate, a senator who abstains doesn't just skip a vote — the word comes from Latin for 'holding oneself away,' as if physically stepping back from the decision.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of abstained
"Abstained" derives from the Latin verb "abstinere," formed from "abs-" (away) and "tenere" (to hold), literally meaning "to hold oneself away." It entered English via Old French "abstenir" in the late Middle Ages, with the verb well established by the early modern period. The same Latin root gives English its related nouns "abstinence" and "abstention," as well as the adjective "abstemious." Cognates appear across the Romance languages, including French "abstenir" and Spanish "abstenerse."
Related word forms
How abstained is actually used
Formal to neutral register; common in political, legal, and religious contexts. In parliamentary procedure, abstaining is distinct from both voting yes and voting no, and is often recorded officially.
Easily confused with abstained
"Obtained" means acquired or got something, while "abstained" means deliberately refrained from doing something — near-opposite meanings with similar spellings.