refrain
1to abstain from an impulse to say or do something (often followed by from): I refrained from telling him what I thought.
Archaic. to curb.
Origin of refrain
1Other words for refrain
Other words from refrain
- re·frain·er, noun
- re·frain·ment, noun
- un·re·frained, adjective
- un·re·frain·ing, adjective
Words that may be confused with refrain
- refrain , restrain
Other definitions for refrain (2 of 2)
a phrase or verse recurring at intervals in a song or poem, especially at the end of each stanza; chorus.
Music.
a musical setting for the refrain of a poem.
any melody.
the principal, recurrent section of a rondo.
an often heard statement, opinion, etc.: Today’s technology haters have a common refrain—robots are bad for society.
a frequently occurring situation or series of events:The game followed a familiar refrain: a strong first quarter start that eventually fizzles out.
Origin of refrain
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use refrain in a sentence
DuckDuckGo is a search engine that was founded in 2008 with a focus on protecting searchers’ privacy, notably showing all searchers the same search results and refraining from building profiles of its users.
How DuckDuckGo (and Microsoft) benefit from Google’s sprawling advertising business | Andy Taylor | November 23, 2020 | Search Engine LandMiss Manners congratulates you for refraining from using these weapons casually.
Miss Manners: Shunning, shaming and ‘cancel culture’ | Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin | November 23, 2020 | Washington PostIts CEO Brian Armstrong recently came out publicly with a divisive memo calling employees to refrain from politics.
Why so many valuable startups seem like the dumbest idea at first | Lucinda Shen | November 13, 2020 | FortuneFor two years, Murray was able to refrain from smoking, but when his business fell on hard times during the pandemic, he went back.
The caveat here is if you or any member of your household is sick, this is probably a good time to refrain from any celebrations and just really stay in the house.
How to safely celebrate Halloween during COVID-19 | Kate Baggaley | October 29, 2020 | Popular-Science
The researchers deliberately refrained from defining “moral” and “immoral” for study participants.
It’s Official: Religion Doesn’t Make You More Moral | Elizabeth Picciuto | September 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFearing another backlash, however, the government has refrained from doing so.
Jafar Panahi: Filmmaking Ban Is My Iranian Prison | Jamsheed Akrami | July 8, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe later reported that he “from decency, refrained from asking her about Tupac.”
Tupac and Murray Kempton: The Godfather Who Wore Tweed | Michael Daly | June 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe's also never refrained from jumping into serious political issues facing the community nationally.
'The Village Voice' Was Crazy to Fire Him: 5 Reasons Why Michael Musto Matters | Tricia Romano | May 17, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTPolitico at least has refrained from giving us a headline praising Ryan today.
Albinia, I have refrained from speech as long as possible; but this is really too much!
Out of deference to the Governor, the American soldiers had refrained from firing upon it.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia | Dorothy M. TorpeyMazaroff refrained from following, saying that he would smoke a cigarette in the seclusion of the garden.
The Weight of the Crown | Fred M. WhiteIt occurred to the Colonel that her day was past, but he wisely refrained from giving the thought utterance.
Those Dale Girls | Frank Weston CarruthI refrained from mentioning the tragedy of yesterday and the sun was noon-high before he brought the matter up.
A Virginia Scout | Hugh Pendexter
British Dictionary definitions for refrain (1 of 2)
/ (rɪˈfreɪn) /
(intr usually foll by from) to abstain (from action); forbear
Origin of refrain
1Derived forms of refrain
- refrainer, noun
- refrainment, noun
British Dictionary definitions for refrain (2 of 2)
/ (rɪˈfreɪn) /
a regularly recurring melody, such as the chorus of a song
a much repeated saying or idea
Origin of refrain
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Cultural definitions for refrain
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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