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refrains

  • plural
    of refrain.
    refrain
    verb (used without object)
    to abstain from an impulse to say or do something (often followed byfrom ).
  • present tense form
    of refrain (3rd person singular).
    refrain
    verb (used without object)
    to abstain from an impulse to say or do something (often followed byfrom ).

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:

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

“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

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