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.

But, unlike Hezbollah, which attacked Israel on March 2, three days after the U.S. and Israeli campaign on Iran, the Houthis had refrained from helping their ally, until Monday.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

Iran until Wednesday had refrained from attacking its neighbor Turkey.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Until this month, the two nations had refrained from launching major airstrikes from one country’s territory directly at the other’s.

From New York Times • Apr. 17, 2024

But with hundreds of patients and medical personnel inside, it had refrained from entering.

From Washington Times • Nov. 15, 2023

This time he had refrained from wearing any fake whiskers at all.

From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke