refrain

¹ American  

[ri-freyn] / rɪˈfreɪn /

verb (used without object)

refrains, present (3rd person singular) refrained, past participle, past refraining present participle

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)

refrains, present (3rd person singular) refrained, past participle, past refraining present participle

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

Derived Forms

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has refrained
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have refrained
  perfect
• is refraining
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been refraining
  perfect progressive
• am refraining
  progressive 1st person singular
• refraining
  participle
• refrains
  singular 3rd person
• has been refraining
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are refraining
  progressive

Past

• had refrained
  perfect
• had been refraining
  perfect progressive
• was refraining
  progressive singular
• were refraining
  progressive plural
• refrained
  participle
• refrained
  simple

Future

• will refrain
  simple
• will have refrained
  perfect
• will have been refraining
  perfect progressive
• will be refraining
  progressive

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.

Example Sentences

Another canon states that justices "Should Refrain from Political Activity."

From Salon • May 30, 2024

Refrain from body comments about yourself and others.

From New York Times • Jan. 17, 2022

"Refrain from using terms such as 'we' or 'our' when describing activities or functions of a VIE," the letter stated.

From Reuters • Aug. 23, 2021

Refrain from using spray sunscreen and insect repellent.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 1, 2021

Refrain: Turn out here and shuck this com, Oh!

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry

Related Words

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