refrain
1 Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
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a phrase or verse recurring at intervals in a song or poem, especially at the end of each stanza; chorus.
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Music.
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a musical setting for the refrain of a poem.
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any melody.
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the principal, recurrent section of a rondo.
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an often heard statement, opinion, etc..
Today’s technology haters have a common refrain—robots are bad for society.
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a frequently occurring situation or series of events.
The game followed a familiar refrain: a strong first quarter start that eventually fizzles out.
verb
noun
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a regularly recurring melody, such as the chorus of a song
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a much repeated saying or idea
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have refrainedperfect
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has refrainedperfect 3rd person singular
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has been refrainingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are refrainingprogressive
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is refrainingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am refrainingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been refrainingperfect progressive
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refrainingparticiple
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refrainssingular 3rd person
Past
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had refrainedperfect
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were refrainingprogressive plural
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was refrainingprogressive singular
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had been refrainingperfect progressive
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refrainedparticiple
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refrainedsimple
Future
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 refrain2
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 ”
Explanation
When someone burps in a quiet classroom it can be hard to refrain from laughing. Use the verb refrain if you have a sudden impulse to do something and you have stopped yourself from doing it. It's usually hard to refrain from doing something: you might find it difficult to refrain from eating dessert after dinner, for example — especially when your aunt makes her double chocolate chunk brownies. The Latin word refrēnāre is formed from the prefix re-, "back," plus frēnāre, "to hold a horse back with a bridle." No need to hold back when using refrain as a noun; it’s the part of a song or poem that repeats.
Vocabulary lists containing refrain
List 2
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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Reading: Literature - Poetry - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On Monday morning, Iran and Israel both announced they would refrain from attacking each other, perhaps in response to more pleas from Trump by phone and social media.
From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026
The song’s Korean refrain and damning alternate title?
From Salon • Jun. 5, 2026
A judge previously ordered Wang to refrain from any communication with the Chinese government, including consular officials in the United States.
From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026
At a White House summit in August, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to renounce claims to each other's territory and refrain from using force.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
“If you will refrain from echoing either the last clause or the last word of everything I say to you, I will be much obliged. Home. Yes, home.”
From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
