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:
Now, don’t get me wrong: The movie isn’t exactly garnering Oscar buzz, or even eliciting the fervent “you’ve got to see this!” refrain that followed 2014’s “Gone Girl” around.
From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026
In this series, he has two hits and two strikeouts in eight at-bats, and his inability to refrain from swinging at pitches outside the strike zone has become a glaring weakness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
The mood was also helped by G7 leaders' decision to release 100 million barrels of diesel and crude oil from their reserves over four months and to "refrain from export restrictions on energy".
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026
"We urge everyone to remain calm and refrain from sharing unverified information as authorities continue their investigation."
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
I stopped, unwilling to make my first foray into filial disobedience w'ith one who faced her Maker—but could not refrain from saying, “I ask you not to tell me children’s tales of panthers pulling chariots.”
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
It features — without a doubt — one of the best bridges and refrains of the year, and perhaps onward.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
There is something genuinely quite heartbreaking about watching Panettiere, a young woman just coming to understand Hollywood industry standards, repeat the sickly refrains of a similarly demanding profession.
From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2026
The dollar strengthened, but is likely to weaken this year even if the Federal Reserve refrains from cutting interest rates, TD Securities strategists said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
“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
In my ear, my Baba’s deep voice murmurs the refrains.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
ING is financing defense projects in countries including Poland, Germany, Italy and France, but has refrained from setting a specific long-term target for its activities in the industry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
While Kennedy has refrained from commenting on the current court or President Trump, he has written a memoir that tells his life story and explains the reasoning behind the major decisions of his era.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 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
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch refrained from attacking the outgoing PM's record, instead praising him for his work on Ukraine and his friendship with the country's president Volodymyr Zelensky.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Only Emily and Mabel refrained from embarrassing her.
From "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" by Bette Bao Lord
Experts expect details of future potential interest-rate hikes to be kept to a minimum, owing to Warsh’s preference for refraining from issuing guidance.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026
But the 70-year-old pontiff has been cautious in his statements since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran that started the war on February 28, refraining from naming any party in his condemnations and appeals for peace.
From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 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
“Just now!” said Harry, who was refraining from yelling with enormous difficulty.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
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.
