How Do You Spell ABSTAIN?

Pronunciation: [ɐbstˈe͡ɪn] (IPA)

The word "abstain" is spelled as /əbˈsteɪn/ according to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). This verb means to restrain oneself from doing something, especially something pleasurable like eating or drinking. The sound /ə/ represents the schwa sound that occurs in the unstressed syllable. The letter "b" is pronounced as /b/, followed by the stressed vowel sound /eɪ/. The final letters "n" are pronounced as /n/. Spelling of the word "abstain" is fairly straightforward, and can be easily memorized.

ABSTAIN Meaning and Definition

  1. Abstain is a verb that refers to the act of deliberately choosing to withhold oneself from engaging in a particular action or participating in a specific activity. It indicates a voluntary decision to refrain or hold back from doing something.

    When someone abstains, they consciously choose not to partake in an action, often due to moral, personal, religious, or health reasons. This decision typically involves showing restraint or self-discipline.

    Abstaining can be applied in various contexts, such as abstaining from consuming alcoholic beverages, abstaining from voting in an election, or abstaining from getting involved in a controversial debate or argument. It is a deliberate act of nonparticipation or noninvolvement.

    In a voting context, to abstain means to choose not to vote either in favor or against a particular motion, candidate, or proposition. This decision usually occurs when an individual wants to remain neutral or does not feel strongly enough about the subject in question.

    Furthermore, abstaining can also be observed in certain dietary practices, where individuals abstain from consuming specific types of food, such as meat or dairy, usually for ethical or health-related reasons.

    In summary, abstain is an active verb that signifies the act of making a deliberate and conscious choice to refrain from participation, engagement, or action.

Top Common Misspellings for ABSTAIN *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for ABSTAIN

Etymology of ABSTAIN

The word "abstain" comes from the Latin term "abstinēre", which is derived from the prefix "ab-" meaning "away" or "from" and the verb "stinēre" meaning "to keep, hold back, or restrain". In combination, "abstinēre" carries the meaning of "to hold oneself back or refrain". This Latin term eventually evolved into the Old French word "abstenir", which later became "abstain" in English.

Idioms with the word ABSTAIN

  • abstain from sth The idiom "abstain from sth" means to voluntarily refrain or choose not to participate in or consume something, such as food, drink, or certain activities. It often implies a conscious decision to avoid or resist something, usually due to personal beliefs, self-discipline, or the desire to maintain control.
  • abstain from The idiom "abstain from" means to choose not to do or engage in something, especially something perceived as harmful or undesirable. It refers to voluntarily refraining or holding back from participating or indulging in a particular action, behavior, or substance.
  • abstain from something The idiom "abstain from something" means to refrain or consciously avoid partaking in or consuming something, typically due to personal choice or for moral, health, or religious reasons. It indicates a deliberate decision to not engage in a particular activity or to deny oneself of something.
  • abstain from voting The idiom "abstain from voting" means to choose not to vote or formally express a decision or opinion during a voting process. It refers to consciously refraining from casting a vote, either due to personal reasons, a lack of certainty, or in order to avoid contributing to a particular outcome.

Similar spelling words for ABSTAIN

Conjugate verb Abstain

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have abstained
you would have abstained
he/she/it would have abstained
we would have abstained
they would have abstained
I would have abstain
you would have abstain
he/she/it would have abstain
we would have abstain
they would have abstain

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been abstaining
you would have been abstaining
he/she/it would have been abstaining
we would have been abstaining
they would have been abstaining

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would abstain
you would abstain
he/she/it would abstain
we would abstain
they would abstain

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be abstaining
you would be abstaining
he/she/it would be abstaining
we would be abstaining
they would be abstaining

FUTURE

I will abstain
you will abstain
he/she/it will abstain
we will abstain
they will abstain

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be abstaining
you will be abstaining
he/she/it will be abstaining
we will be abstaining
they will be abstaining

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have abstained
you will have abstained
he/she/it will have abstained
we will have abstained
they will have abstained

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been abstaining
you will have been abstaining
he/she/it will have been abstaining
we will have been abstaining
they will have been abstaining

IMPERATIVE

you abstain
we let´s abstain

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to abstain

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was abstaining
you were abstaining
he/she/it was abstaining
we were abstaining
they were abstaining

PAST PARTICIPLE

abstained

PAST PERFECT

I had abstained
you had abstained
he/she/it had abstained
we had abstained
they had abstained

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been abstaining
you had been abstaining
he/she/it had been abstaining
we had been abstaining
they had been abstaining

PRESENT

I abstain
you abstain
he/she/it abstains
we abstain
they abstain

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am abstaining
you are abstaining
he/she/it is abstaining
we are abstaining
they are abstaining

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

abstaining

PRESENT PERFECT

I have abstained
you have abstained
he/she/it has abstained
we have abstained
they have abstained

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been abstaining
you have been abstaining
he/she/it has been abstaining
we have been abstaining
they have been abstaining

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it abstain

SIMPLE PAST

I abstained
you abstained
he/she/it abstained
we abstained
they abstained

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