refrain
1 of 2verb
re·frain ri-ˈfrān 
refrained; refraining; refrains
transitive verb
archaic : curb, restrain
intransitive verb
: to keep oneself from doing, feeling, or indulging in something and especially from following a passing impulse
refrained from having dessert
refrainment
ri-ˈfrān-mənt
noun refrain
2 of 2noun
1
: a regularly recurring phrase or verse especially at the end of each stanza or division of a poem or song : chorus
also : the musical setting of a refrain
2
: a comment or statement that is often repeated
Synonyms
Verb
- abjure
- abstain (from)
- forbear
- forgo
- forego
- keep (from)
- withhold (from)
Noun
- burden
- chorus
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb I was going to make a joke but I refrained. Noun A common refrain among teachers these days is that the schools need more funding. I didn't know the verses of the song, so I only sang on the refrain.
Recent Examples on the Web
Laura Neilson, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 And importantly, government officials must refrain from stigmatizing people who have monkeypox. Muhammad Jawad Noon, Scientific American, 23 June 2022 Director Daneskov and co-writer Morten Pape refrain from ever pushing too hard, and their players are perfectly attuned to their sly restraint. Joe Leydon, Variety, 17 June 2022 If possible, refrain from tapping into tapping nest eggs during of uncertainty, such as a significant cash buffer or a home equity line of credit. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 4 June 2022 Please refrain from asking us questions about this tragedy and respectfully do not take photos while on the farm property. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 23 May 2022 The agency asked that from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., thermostats be kept at 78 degrees or higher, that Californians avoid using major appliances and refrain from charging electric vehicles. Talal Ansari, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 Judge Steven Key also ordered Mendez to abide by a 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and refrain from driving without a valid license while her case is pending, prosecutors said. Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2022 But the consensus has been that Ukrainians need to unite and refrain from criticisms while the country is at war, said Oksana, 30, who was discussing the controversy Thursday in a Kyiv cafe with her partner. Liz Sly, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Aug. 2022 Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2022 The contention that recipients of the relief plan were gender studies majors was a popular refrain among Republicans, though only a small number of students nationwide study in that field. Meg Kinnard, ajc, 26 Aug. 2022 When Zelensky addressed Britain’s House of Commons, his speech included a line that echoed a refrain from Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Johnson’s hero. Karla Adam, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 This refrain would be repeated by other tech giants that released public chatbots, including Meta’s BlenderBot3, released earlier this month. Catherine Thorbecke, CNN, 20 Aug. 2022 The more common refrain centers on letting a starter stay in too long and getting burned. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 Add some viral lyrics in the song’s central refrain and Central Cee has mounted his highest-charting song yet. Eric Frankenberg, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2022 That’s a refrain that’s been repeated by policy makers through subsequent bouts of weakness or volatility. Greg Ritchie, Fortune, 13 July 2022 When asked what surprised him the most about the community's reaction to Triforce-percent, dwangoAC pointed to the tagline used in the sequence's finale, which became a community refrain for the rest of the charity event. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 5 July 2022 See More
Verb
Most founders behind today’s newer offerings refrain from ascribing theirs to specific types or subsets. Laura Neilson, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 And importantly, government officials must refrain from stigmatizing people who have monkeypox. Muhammad Jawad Noon, Scientific American, 23 June 2022 Director Daneskov and co-writer Morten Pape refrain from ever pushing too hard, and their players are perfectly attuned to their sly restraint. Joe Leydon, Variety, 17 June 2022 If possible, refrain from tapping into tapping nest eggs during of uncertainty, such as a significant cash buffer or a home equity line of credit. Jasmine Browley, Essence, 4 June 2022 Please refrain from asking us questions about this tragedy and respectfully do not take photos while on the farm property. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 23 May 2022 The agency asked that from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., thermostats be kept at 78 degrees or higher, that Californians avoid using major appliances and refrain from charging electric vehicles. Talal Ansari, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 Judge Steven Key also ordered Mendez to abide by a 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and refrain from driving without a valid license while her case is pending, prosecutors said. Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Aug. 2022 But the consensus has been that Ukrainians need to unite and refrain from criticisms while the country is at war, said Oksana, 30, who was discussing the controversy Thursday in a Kyiv cafe with her partner. Liz Sly, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Aug. 2022 Noun
The contention that recipients of the relief plan were gender studies majors was a popular refrain among Republicans, though only a small number of students nationwide study in that field. Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2022 The contention that recipients of the relief plan were gender studies majors was a popular refrain among Republicans, though only a small number of students nationwide study in that field. Meg Kinnard, ajc, 26 Aug. 2022 When Zelensky addressed Britain’s House of Commons, his speech included a line that echoed a refrain from Prime Minister Winston Churchill, Johnson’s hero. Karla Adam, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 This refrain would be repeated by other tech giants that released public chatbots, including Meta’s BlenderBot3, released earlier this month. Catherine Thorbecke, CNN, 20 Aug. 2022 The more common refrain centers on letting a starter stay in too long and getting burned. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2022 Add some viral lyrics in the song’s central refrain and Central Cee has mounted his highest-charting song yet. Eric Frankenberg, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2022 That’s a refrain that’s been repeated by policy makers through subsequent bouts of weakness or volatility. Greg Ritchie, Fortune, 13 July 2022 When asked what surprised him the most about the community's reaction to Triforce-percent, dwangoAC pointed to the tagline used in the sequence's finale, which became a community refrain for the rest of the charity event. Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, 5 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English refreynen, from Anglo-French refreiner, refreindre, from Latin refrenare, from re- + frenum bridle — more at frenum
Noun
Middle English refreyn, from Middle French refrain, alteration of Old French refrait melody, response, from past participle of refraindre to break up, moderate, from Vulgar Latin *refrangere, alteration of Latin refringere — more at refract
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
refrain 1 of 2
verb
re·frain ri-ˈfrān
refrained; refraining
: to keep from giving in to a desire or impulse I wanted to laugh but refrained.
refrain
2 of 2noun
: a phrase or verse repeated regularly in a poem or song
refrains
noun
as in choruses
a part of a song or hymn that is repeated every so often I didn't know the verses of the song, so I only sang on the refrain Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- choruses
- repeats
- responses
- burdens