refrain

¹ American  

[ri-freyn] / rɪˈfreɪn /

verb (used without object)

1. to abstain from an impulse to say or do something (often followed byfrom ).

   I refrained from telling him what I thought.

   Synonyms:

   desist , forbear

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verb (used with object)

1. Archaic.  to curb.

refrain ² American  

[ri-freyn] / rɪˈfreɪn /

noun

1. a phrase or verse recurring at intervals in a song or poem, especially at the end of each stanza; chorus.

2. Music.

   1. a musical setting for the refrain of a poem.

   2. any melody.

   3. the principal, recurrent section of a rondo.

3. an often heard statement, opinion, etc..

   Today’s technology haters have a common refrain—robots are bad for society.

4. a frequently occurring situation or series of events.

   The game followed a familiar refrain: a strong first quarter start that eventually fizzles out.

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refrain ¹ British  

/ rɪˈfreɪn /

verb

1. to abstain (from action); forbear

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refrain ² British  

/ rɪˈfreɪn /

noun

1. a regularly recurring melody, such as the chorus of a song

2. a much repeated saying or idea

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refrain Cultural  

1. In some pieces of verse, a set of words repeated at the end of each stanza.

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Other Word Forms

• refrainer noun
• refrainment noun
• unrefrained adjective
• unrefraining adjective

Etymology

Origin of refrain¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English refreinen, from Old French refre(i)ner, from Latin refrēnāre “to bridle,” derivative of re- re- + frēn(um) “bridle”

Origin of refrain¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, Middle French refreyne, from Old French refrain, derivative of refraindre “to break sequence” from Vulgar Latin refrangere (unattested) for Latin refringere “to refract ”

Example Sentences

Portugal, the country's former colonial ruler, has called for a return to constitutional order, with its foreign ministry urging "all those involved to refrain from any act of institutional or civic violence".

From BBC

Schoolchildren in the town were told to commute in a group or use school buses, while nursery school preschool children refrained from playing outside.

From Barron's

The agencies have reached seven settlements that required divestitures or promises to refrain from anticompetitive behavior so far this year, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of federal data.

From The Wall Street Journal

Recent weakness in the won also gave the BOK another reason to refrain from rate cuts, as such a move could pressure the currency further.

From The Wall Street Journal

Once a viewer is indoctrinated, however, they may find it difficult to refrain from puzzling over its message.

From Salon

Related Words

• abstain
• avoid
• cease
• curb
• desist
• forgo
• halt
• renounce
• resist
• restrain