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
Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2025
The second such missive about MSNBC in the past few days isn’t a new refrain for the President, but also comes at a moment of transition for the cable channel.
—Erik Hayden, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 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 judge said Peterson must stay at least 100 yards away from Pete and refrain from harassing, intimidating or threatening her in any way until at least January 9, 2030.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2025
The second such missive about MSNBC in the past few days isn’t a new refrain for the President, but also comes at a moment of transition for the cable channel.
—Erik Hayden, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for refrain
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Cite this Entry
“Refrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refrain. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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