YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

abstinence

Noun

IPA /ˈæbstɪnəns/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

The deliberate choice to avoid something, especially alcohol or certain foods, for health, religious or moral reasons.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

abstinence/ˈæbstɪnəns/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea

A person decides to avoid alcohol
They choose not to drink it
The choice continues for a period of time

Abstinence involves deliberately going without something, such as alcohol.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

During a month of abstinence from alcohol, she tried new fruit drinks.
The student interviewed people about their reasons for abstinence from alcohol.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

During a month of ________ from alcohol, she tried new fruit drinks.

Show the answer

abstinence — The deliberate choice to avoid something, especially alcohol or certain foods, for health, religious or moral reasons.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “abstinence” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

The deliberate choice to avoid something, especially alcohol or certain foods, for health, religious or moral reasons.

Compare: During a month of abstinence from alcohol, she tried new fruit drinks.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

Through Old French from Latin abstinentia, related to a verb meaning to hold back.

Did you know?

Abstinence is generally uncountable: a period of abstinence, rather than an abstinence.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.