refrained; refraining; refrains
: to keep oneself from doing, feeling, or indulging in something and especially from following a passing impulse
refrained from having dessert
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
Examples of refrain in a Sentence
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
Katya Soldak, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Since singing what turned out to be a notorious version of the National Anthem at a high-profile ballgame last July, country singer Ingrid Andress has stayed quietly out of sight, offering an apology and then refraining from subsequent statements or appearances.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 1 Mar. 2025
Reeves Wiedeman, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2025
Expert Theories Behind Low Reading Scores In what may sound like an all-too-familiar refrain, the pandemic likely plays a role here.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refrain
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Verb
Trump defied the worst expectations, however, by adopting a strategy of balancing his support between the two sides of the conflict, refraining from overtly supporting either one.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Since singing what turned out to be a notorious version of the National Anthem at a high-profile ballgame last July, country singer Ingrid Andress has stayed quietly out of sight, offering an apology and then refraining from subsequent statements or appearances.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 1 Mar. 2025
Noun
The most common refrain was a simmering concern about the upcoming anniversary show: There are only a few hundred seats in Studio 8H, and people were nervously awaiting their invitations.
—Reeves Wiedeman, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2025
Expert Theories Behind Low Reading Scores In what may sound like an all-too-familiar refrain, the pandemic likely plays a role here.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refrain
Articles Related to refrain
Cite this Entry
“Refrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refrain. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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