refrain

1 of 2

verb

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 2

noun

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

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

Verb

Policies recommend injecting ketamine or other drugs, and urge firefighter-paramedics to refrain from holding the person in a prone position, the position in which Floyd and some of the men who died in South Florida were restrained. —Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024

Stargazers should give their eyes half an hour to adjust to the dark and refrain from looking at screens, which would disrupt the adjustment. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024

Noun

The call sign of Radio Mali is a refrain from the Epic of Sundiata that Balla Fasséké Kouyaté first performed. —Eliot Stein, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2024

The only relief from the monotony, and from worrying about the anguish my family must have been undergoing over my disappearance, was—bizarrely—the melodious voice of a female prisoner in another cell singing a Christian hymn that included 'Save me Jesus' in its refrain. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

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 

: to hold oneself back

refrain from laughing

refrain

2 of 2 noun

: a regularly repeated phrase or verse of a poem or song : chorus