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.
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
verb
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:
In October, his Yemeni-born adviser Amer Ghalib said the president would refrain from using such language.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
It’s a common thematic refrain for AI-related stocks these days.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
Simons: I think a pretty common refrain among people that have been in long-term relationships is that no relationship is ever the same as it was when you first met.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
"We call on protesters to exercise restraint and to refrain from any acts of violence. Violence has no place in democracies," it said in a statement.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
If all of you refrain from pressing the button, you’ll each receive $10,000 from the philanthropist.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
Likewise, emoluments are barred regardless of whether the official takes or refrains from any act whatever.
From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2026
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
“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
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
On the refrains her voice spun, twinning and mixing with my own.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Stray Kids had previously refrained from giving a direct answer to questions about the awards.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 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
In a July 16 announcement, the FDA refrained from naming Taylor Farms because of legal restrictions around trade secrets, according to people familiar with the decision.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 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
When Eva Marie saw that Ethan Potter was assigned to her homeroom, she refrained from asking Margy about him or Ethan about her.
From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg
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
Other retailers are refraining from plugging their connection to Kelly.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 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
Imagine the difference to the sense, he says, if you place the comma after the word “not”: “My Son, if sinners intise thee consent thou not, refraining thy foot from their way.”
From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
