abstain
/əbˈsteɪn/
verb
- To choose not to do something, especially something you enjoy or that is considered bad for you.
- The doctor advised him to abstain from eating sugar to improve his health.
- During the election, three committee members decided to abstain from voting.
- She abstained from watching TV until she finished her homework.
- To formally choose not to vote on a particular issue.
- Two senators abstained from the vote because they felt they had a conflict of interest.
- The board member abstained rather than take sides in the debate.
- When the resolution was put to a vote, several delegates abstained.
Antonyms