refrain

¹ American  

[ri-freyn] / rɪˈfreɪn /

verb (used without object)

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)

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

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

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 ”

Example Sentences

Strategy disclosed Monday something it rarely does — refrain from buying bitcoin.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

The surtitles intentionally refrain from translating much of what he says, leaving the audience to rely on his loony spoken tone and loony tunes to carry meaning.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Oil prices edged lower and stocks reversed some of Thursday’s losses as U.S. officials sought to calm markets and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested Israel would refrain from future strikes against Iranian oil fields.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

They demanded Tehran "immediately refrain" and -- alongside the call for a safe corridor -- requested a "coordinated international approach to the safety of navigation" in the region.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

They were to press the war home to its real lords—until they themselves were ready to refrain from warfare, being confronted with its reality.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White

Related Words

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