Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense refrains, present participle refraining, past tense, past participle refrained
1. verb
If you refrainfrom doing something, you deliberately do not do it.
Mrs Hardie refrained from making any comment. [VERB + from]
He appealed to all factions to refrain from violence. [Vfrom -ing/n]
Synonyms: stop, avoid, give up, cease More Synonyms of refrain
2. countable noun
A refrain is a short, simple part of a song, which is repeated many times.
...a refrain from an old song.
Synonyms: chorus, song, tune, melody More Synonyms of refrain
3. countable noun
A refrain is a comment or saying that people often repeat.
Rosa's constant refrain is that she doesn't have a life.
refrain in British English1
(rɪˈfreɪn)
verb
(intransitive; usually foll byfrom)
to abstain (from action); forbear
Derived forms
refrainer (reˈfrainer)
noun
refrainment (reˈfrainment)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Latin refrēnāre to check with a bridle, from re- + frēnum a bridle
refrain in British English2
(rɪˈfreɪn)
noun
1.
a regularly recurring melody, such as the chorus of a song
2.
a much repeated saying or idea
Word origin
C14: via Old French, ultimately from Latin refringere to break into pieces
refrain in American English1
(rɪˈfreɪn)
verb intransitive
1.
to hold back; keep oneself (from doing something); forbear
verb transitive
2. Archaic
to hold back; curb
SYNONYMY NOTE: refrain1 usually suggests the curbing of a passing impulse in keeping oneself from sayingor doing something [although provoked, she refrained from answering]; abstain implies voluntary self-denial or the deliberate giving up of something [to abstain from liquor]; forbear1 suggests self-restraint manifesting a patient endurance under provocation [to forbear venting one's wrath]
Word origin
ME refreinen < OFr refrener < L refrenare < re-, back + frenare, to curb < frenum, rein
refrain in American English2
(rɪˈfreɪn)
noun
1.
a phrase, verse, or verses repeated at intervals in a song or poem, as after each stanza
2.
music for this
Word origin
ME refreine < MFr refrain < OFr refraindre, to break, repress, modulate < VL *refrangere, for L refringere, to break off: see refract
Examples of 'refrain' in a sentence
refrain
It is a refrain she repeats often with absolute sincerity.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A constant refrain of the book is how much the army has shrunk.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is a terrifying new twist on an old refrain.
The Sun (2007)
Such was the potency of his verses that they often became refrains at leftwing rallies.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This turns out to be a familiar refrain.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The myth about road tax is a common refrain.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The other constant refrain is a more general sense that no one seems to care any more.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It is a familiar refrain about privatised industries.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This has proved a common refrain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This hunger is a constant refrain.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is an increasingly common refrain.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And how his mother vainly repeats the same refrain, oblivious to their lack of interest.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Her constant editing refrain is'Does this feel right for now?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A second idea is to refrain from negative comments about the offending person.
Christianity Today (2000)
A constant refrain of health tourists is that they have been driven to it.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This became a constant refrain on her part when she was under stress due to her husband's ill health.
John Fisher Tommy Cooper: Always Leave Them Laughing (2006)
It's the same old refrain.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It was a familiar refrain.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The familiar refrain that school days are the happiest of your life is much disputed now but few doubt that the years spent at university are pivotal.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is a common refrain - why spend money in space when we have problems here on Earth?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Another familiar refrain, equally as disingenuous, is the sound of jockeys distancing themselves from any prospect of becoming champion.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They did, at least, have the good manners to refrain from comment until after thedoor had closed behind him.
Louise Carpenter AN UNLIKELY COUNTESS: Lily Budge and the 13th Earl of Galloway (2004)
In other languages
refrain
British English: refrain VERB
to refrain from sth | to refrain from doing sth If you refrain from doing something, you deliberately do not do it.
She refrained from making any comment.
American English: refrain
Brazilian Portuguese: evitar
Chinese: 忍住
European Spanish: abstenerse
French: s'abstenir
German: unterlassen
Italian: astenersi
Japanese: 控える
Korean: 자제하다
European Portuguese: evitar
Latin American Spanish: abstenerse
British English: refrain NOUN
A refrain is a short, simple part of a song, which is repeated many times.
...a refrain from an old song.
American English: refrain
Brazilian Portuguese: refrão
Chinese: 副歌
European Spanish: estribillo
French: refrain
German: Refrain
Italian: ritornello
Japanese: リフレイン
Korean: 후렴
European Portuguese: refrão
Latin American Spanish: estribillo
Chinese translation of 'refrain'
refrain
(rɪˈfreɪn)
vi
克(疊)制 (kèzhì)
n(c)
[of song]叠句 (diéjù)
to refrain from doing sth克制而不做某事 (kèzhì ér bù zuò mǒushì)
(verb)
Definition
to keep oneself from doing
She refrained from making any comment.
Synonyms
stop
We need to stop wasting so much money.
avoid
She had to take emergency action to avoid a disaster.
give up
cease
A small number of firms have ceased trading.
do without
renounce
She renounced her old ways.
abstain
eschew
He eschewed publicity and avoided nightclubs.
leave off
desist
Kindly desist from making so much noise.
forbear
I forbore to comment on this.
kick (informal)
I'm trying to kick the habit.
(noun)
Definition
a frequently repeated part of a song
a refrain from an old song
Synonyms
chorus
Everyone joined in the chorus.
song
a voice singing a Spanish song
tune
She was humming a merry little tune.
melody
a catchy melody with a frenetic beat
Additional synonyms
in the sense of avoid
Definition
to prevent from happening
She had to take emergency action to avoid a disaster.
Synonyms
prevent,
stop,
frustrate,
hamper,
foil,
inhibit,
head off,
avert,
thwart,
intercept,
hinder,
obstruct,
impede,
ward off,
stave off,
forestall,
defend against
in the sense of cease
Definition
to bring or come to an end
A small number of firms have ceased trading.
Synonyms
discontinue,
end,
stop,
fail,
finish,
give up,
conclude,
suspend,
halt,
terminate,
break off,
refrain,
leave off,
give over (informal),
bring to an end,
desist,
belay
in the sense of desist
Definition
to stop doing
Kindly desist from making so much noise.
Synonyms
stop,
cease,
refrain from,
end,
kick (informal),
give up,
suspend,
break off,
abstain,
discontinue,
leave off,
have done with,
give over (informal),
forbear,
belay
Synonyms of 'refrain'
refrain
Explore 'refrain' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of eschew
Definition
to avoid doing or being involved in (something disliked or harmful)
He eschewed publicity and avoided nightclubs.
Synonyms
avoid,
give up,
abandon,
have nothing to do with,
shun,
elude,
renounce,
refrain from,
forgo,
abstain from,
fight shy of,
forswear,
abjure,
kick (informal),
swear off,
give a wide berth to,
keep or steer clear of
in the sense of forbear
Definition
to cease or refrain (from doing something)
I forbore to comment on this.
Synonyms
refrain,
avoid,
omit,
hold back,
stop,
decline,
pause,
cease,
withhold,
abstain,
eschew,
keep from,
resist the temptation to,
desist,
restrain yourself
in the sense of kick
Definition
to free oneself of (an addiction)
I'm trying to kick the habit.
Synonyms
give up,
break,
stop,
abandon,
quit,
cease,
eschew,
leave off,
desist from,
end
in the sense of melody
Definition
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
a catchy melody with a frenetic beat
Synonyms
tune,
song,
theme,
refrain,
air,
music,
strain,
descant,
MLOD
in the sense of renounce
Definition
to give up (a belief or habit) voluntarily
She renounced her old ways.
Synonyms
disown,
reject,
abandon,
quit,
discard,
spurn,
eschew,
leave off,
throw off,
forsake,
retract,
repudiate,
cast off,
abstain from,
recant,
forswear,
abjure,
swear off,
wash your hands of
in the sense of song
Definition
a piece of music with words, composed for the voice
a voice singing a Spanish song
Synonyms
ballad,
air,
tune,
lay,
strain,
carol,
lyric,
chant,
chorus,
melody,
anthem,
number,
hymn,
psalm,
shanty,
pop song,
ditty,
canticle,
canzonet,
choon (slang),
waiata (New Zealand)
in the sense of tune
Definition
a melody, esp. one for which harmony is not essential