abstain from (something)

abstain from (something)

To refrain from consuming something or doing some activity. Katie wants to lose weight, so she has vowed to abstain from sugar. No, I don't really drink anymore. I abstained from alcohol while I was pregnant and realized I didn't miss it. I'm trying to abstain from frivolous spending so I can build up my emergency savings fund.

See also: abstain

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

abstain from something

to avoid some activity or the use of some substance, such as alcohol, drugs, sex, or food. They abstained from hard liquor and any other kind of intoxicants.

See also: abstain

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

abstain from

v.

To have made a deliberate choice not to do something: I abstained from eating fatty foods when I was on my diet. The minister abstained from drinking alcohol.

See also: abstain

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.