abstenir

to abstain, to refrain

verb ahp-stuh-NEER Rare

Usage Note

Abstenir is almost always used reflexively as s'abstenir, meaning to refrain from doing something or to abstain from voting. S'abstenir de fumer means 'to refrain from smoking'. The related noun abstention is commonly used in political contexts for voters who choose not to cast a ballot.

Examples

"Il a choisi de s'abstenir de voter."

Natural Translation

He chose to abstain from voting.

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