Understanding Abstain - Meaning, Examples, and Contexts

Abstain means to refrain from doing something, especially something that is considered harmful or inappropriate. It can also mean to avoid engaging in a particular activity or behavior.
For example, someone might abstain from drinking alcohol if they have a problem with alcoholism, or they might abstain from eating certain foods if they are trying to lose weight.
In the context of voting, to abstain means to not vote on a particular issue or resolution, rather than casting a vote in favor or opposition. This can be done for a variety of reasons, such as because the voter has no opinion on the matter, or because they do not feel that it is appropriate to take a position on the issue.
Abstaining can also refer to refraining from participating in a particular activity or behavior, such as abstaining from sexual activity until marriage, or abstaining from smoking.
Overall, abstain means to refrain or avoid doing something, and it can be used in a variety of contexts to describe different types of behaviors or activities.