refrain
1 Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
-
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.
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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.
verb
noun
-
a regularly recurring melody, such as the chorus of a song
-
a much repeated saying or idea
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
refrainsimple
-
refrainssimple
-
have refrainedperfect
-
has refrainedperfect
-
am refrainingprogressive
-
are refrainingprogressive
-
is refrainingprogressive
-
have been refrainingperfect progressive
-
has been refrainingperfect progressive
Past
-
refrainedsimple
-
had refrainedperfect
-
was refrainingprogressive
-
were refrainingprogressive
-
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:
After two fatal shootings by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in as many weeks, the agency will reportedly refrain, effective immediately, from conducting almost any traffic stops nationwide.
From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026
The event fell within the Fed’s postmeeting blackout period, when officials refrain from public comment on the economy or monetary policy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
"We're trying to at least recover the bodies," was the common refrain.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
As the band launches into Dirty Harry, the long, pitch-side advertising hoardings light up with a cartoon choir, singing the song's refrain, "all I do is dance".
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
You know the refrain he uses sometimes in his sermons?
From "Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti" by Frances Temple
“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
Mr. Stephens writes with vigor and verve, and he refrains from flaunting the expertise he clearly possesses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026
If Iran refrains from violent crackdowns on protesters, there is a chance that anti-government protestors overthrow the government.
From Salon ● Jan. 11, 2026
In my ear, my Baba’s deep voice murmurs the refrains.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
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
At an international conference in late May, Ueda refrained from giving any hints on the timing of the BOJ’s next move.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
To the relief of Max and John, we refrained from publicly questioning Bragg’s decision.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
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
Schiem showed his true gentlemanly nature by refraining from any crude comments as he lay a thick slice of steaming meat atop her piece of bread.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
