refrain
1 Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
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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.
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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
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has refrainedperfect
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am refrainingprogressive
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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:
"The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete," it added.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
"At this time, we have very limited information and ask that everyone respect the privacy of Kaylee's family and refrain from sharing or speculating about the circumstances surrounding the accident."
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
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
As much as new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh tried to refrain from steering markets, it looks like he did.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026
As if in answer, the pesky refrain bubbled to the surface of her whirling brain, in time to the soft click of the second hand marching ’round the clock face.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
“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
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
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
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
So far, it has refrained from striking Israel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 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
But, unlike Hezbollah, which attacked Israel on March 2, three days after the U.S. and Israeli campaign on Iran, the Houthis had refrained from helping their ally, until Monday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026
I wanted to ask; but that was a question at present without an answer, and I refrained.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
The Bank of Japan earlier this week held its short-term policy rate steady, with BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda refraining from providing a clear signal on the timing of the next rate move.
From MarketWatch ● May 2, 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
The Palace points to the King's unprecedented moves so far – stripping Andrew of titles and home, offering assistance, and refraining in any way from seeking favour from the authorities.
From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2026
“The Americans said they want to raise the issue of de-escalation, with both sides demonstrating certain steps toward refraining from the use of long-range capabilities in order to create more space for diplomacy,” Zelensky said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 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.
