ab·stainBrE/əbˈsteɪn/NAmE/əbˈsteɪn/verbpresent simple - I / you / we / theyabstainBrE/əbˈsteɪn/NAmE/əbˈsteɪn/present simple - he / she / itabstainsBrE/əbˈsteɪnz/NAmE/əbˈsteɪnz/past simpleabstainedBrE/əbˈsteɪnd/NAmE/əbˈsteɪnd/past participleabstainedBrE/əbˈsteɪnd/NAmE/əbˈsteɪnd/-ing formabstainingBrE/əbˈsteɪnɪŋ/NAmE/əbˈsteɪnɪŋ/[intransitive]~(from sth)to choose not to use a vote, either in favour of or against sth（投票时）弃权Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained.十人投票赞成，五人反对，两人弃权。~(from sth)to decide not to do or have sth, especially sth you like or enjoy, because it is bad for your health or considered morally wrong戒；戒除to abstain from alcohol/sex/drugs戒酒；禁欲；戒毒~(from sth)(IndE)to stay away from sth离开；回避The workers who abstained from work yesterday have been suspended.昨天旷工的工人被暂时停职。 ➡  see alsoabstention,abstinence