refrain
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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refrains,
present (3rd person singular)
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refrained,
past participle, past
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refraining
present participle
verb (used with object)
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refrains,
present (3rd person singular)
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refrained,
past participle, past
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refraining
present participle
noun
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refrains
plural
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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
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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refrainsimple
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refrainssimple
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have refrainedperfect
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has refrainedperfect
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am refrainingprogressive
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are refrainingprogressive
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is refrainingprogressive
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have been refrainingperfect progressive
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has been refrainingperfect progressive
Past
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refrainedsimple
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had refrainedperfect
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was refrainingprogressive
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were refrainingprogressive
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had been refrainingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
Yasukuni this week also appealed to visitors to refrain from wearing military-style uniforms so that the "general public can worship in peace and quiet at our shrine".
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
With the recent release of her new music video for “Petal,” those messages intensified to establish a troubling refrain: “Is Ariana Grande OK?”
From Salon ● Aug. 13, 2026
It said Spain would refrain from imposing its border checks if Italy ended its own controls.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
The refrain reflects a message the band has long pushed: that fans should stop watching concerts through six-inch screens and engage with their performances in real life.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
Mrs. Cobb was no longer clenching the arms of her chair, and she was no longer fussing at the organ music, and she was no longer humming to the refrain.
From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt
“This proposal is decidedly neutral and refrains from saying that any asset class is any better or worse than other investment types.”
From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 2026
“This proposal is decidedly neutral and refrains from saying that any asset class is any better or worse than other investment types, as the law requires,” said U.S.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 30, 2026
Along with boasting one of the most easily recallable and down-to-Earth refrains in popular music, “Kiss” has a noteworthy history.
From Salon ● Feb. 14, 2026
As I continued to circle the crowd, ducking between rows of folding chairs, I caught the same refrains over and over.
From Slate ● Jan. 3, 2026
On the refrains her voice spun, twinning and mixing with my own.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
The euro fell against the dollar after the ECB left interest rates unchanged, as expected, but refrained from any hints about further rate rises.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Laura Ingraham and Jesse Watters chose not to preview or promote the speech in the two prime hours leading up to it, and Ingraham refrained from mentioning it on her Friday, Monday and Tuesday broadcasts.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026
Central banks refrained from aggressive tightening cycles amid economic growth, a trend which Matejka and his team do not see changing dramatically.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 6, 2026
Investigating active government officials in Mexico is a new strategy for the United States, which in the past refrained from targeting sitting leaders in allied countries with criminal investigations because of the clear political ramifications.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026
It’s good I refrained from saying anything to the baker in Tarifa, thought the boy to himself.
From "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho
Citing Paul's "obsession" with him, Fauci said he would invoke the Fifth Amendment, refraining from answering questions to avoid self-incrimination, adding that it "pains me to do so."
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
The Bank of Japan earlier this week held its short-term policy rate steady, with BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda refraining from providing a clear signal on the timing of the next rate move.
From MarketWatch ● May 2, 2026
"The parties must take urgent measures to protect civilians, including by refraining from the military use of civilian objects."
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2026
A spokesperson for the CHP said that, out of respect for Cano’s family and the integrity of the review process, the agency was refraining from comment until it had “thoroughly examined” the medical examiner’s report.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026
If you have not as yet replied to my letter, please go on refraining.
From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger
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.
