What does abstain mean?
To abstain is to make a deliberate choice not to do, use, or consume something — most commonly alcohol, tobacco, certain foods, or sexual activity — or, in formal settings, to decline to cast a vote. The word carries connotations of self-discipline, restraint, and conscious willpower rather than mere inability or prohibition: one abstains by choice, often for health, moral, religious, or strategic reasons. It is a relatively formal term, common in medical advice, religious observance, and parliamentary procedure, and it nearly always takes the preposition "from" (as in "abstain from drinking"). In voting contexts, an abstention is neither a yes nor a no; it registers neutrality or reluctance to commit. Derived forms such as "abstinence," "abstention," and "abstinent" extend the idea of voluntary restraint into everyday vocabulary. The word's Latin roots — meaning literally to "hold oneself away" — give it a vivid underlying image of willpower actively holding a person back from temptation.
To choose not to do or have something, especially something pleasurable or potentially harmful; to refrain voluntarily.
"He vowed to abstain from smoking for the sake of his health."
Typically followed by "from": abstain from alcohol, abstain from voting.
To formally decline to vote on a proposal or issue.
"Several councillors abstained rather than support either side of the contentious motion."
When you abstain, you literally 'hold yourself away' — the Latin root abstinere combines ab- ('away') with tenere ('to hold'), as if your willpower were physically gripping you back.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of abstain
"Abstain" comes from the Latin verb abstinere, formed from ab- ("away from") and tenere ("to hold"), so its literal sense is "to hold oneself away from." The word entered English via Old French in the late Middle Ages, initially in religious contexts of fasting and self-denial before broadening to general restraint. It shares this root with "abstinence," "abstention," and "abstemious," all carrying the same core notion of holding back or holding off.
Related word forms
How abstain is actually used
"Abstain" is somewhat formal in register and frequently appears in medical, religious, legal, and parliamentary contexts. It is almost always followed by the preposition "from." In voting contexts, abstaining is distinct from voting for or against — it signals neutrality or a decision not to take a position.
Easily confused with abstain
"Refrain" means to hold oneself back from an action and is often interchangeable with "abstain," but "abstain" more strongly implies a deliberate, sustained decision not to partake at all.