refrain

1 of 2

verb

re·​frain ri-ˈfrān How to pronounce refrain (audio)
refrained; refraining; refrains

intransitive verb

: to keep oneself from doing, feeling, or indulging in something and especially from following a passing impulse
refrained from having dessert
refrainment noun

refrain

2 of 2

noun

1
: a regularly recurring phrase or verse especially at the end of each stanza or division of a poem or song : chorus
also : the musical setting of a refrain
2
: a comment or statement that is often repeated

Examples of refrain in a Sentence

Verb I was going to make a joke but I refrained. Noun A common refrain among teachers these days is that the schools need more funding. I didn't know the verses of the song, so I only sang on the refrain.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
As the Nazis' concentration camp deportation plan unfolded toward the end of 1942, the Jewish resistance initially decided to refrain from military action, under the belief that the Jewish population was being sent to labor camps. David Unsworth, Fox News, 19 Apr. 2024 But the protector has refrained from emulating his patron’s example. Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2024 So the team prepared shuttle buses for employees and asked them to refrain from using their own cars. Takashi Mochizuki, Fortune Asia, 15 Apr. 2024 Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, has largely refrained from commenting on the South China Sea dispute. TIME, 12 Apr. 2024 While Commissioner Manolo Reyes commented that the whole city should refrain from doing business with Pradere, that boundary was not formalized or voted on at Thursday’s meeting. Ana Claudia Chacin, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024 Many families of hostages had refrained from publicly denouncing Mr. Netanyahu to avoid antagonizing the leadership and making the hostages’ plight a political issue. Melanie Lindman, Wafaa Shurafa, and Samy Magdy, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2024 Even Netanyahu’s political rivals have refrained from publicly discussing the two-state solution since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024 Part of that show of respect is to remain reverent during this event and to refrain from eating, sleeping, or going outside, instead taking the time to pray and sit still. The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Noun
With the appropriate budget, refrain from cutting corners or approaching it as just another home project. Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 10 Apr. 2024 But Gorsuch's refrains reflect the uptick in nationwide injunctions imposed by district court judges over the past few years in response to court fights over hot-button policies. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2024 The palace also asked that well-wishers refrain from laying flowers at the gates, as members of the public have historically done following deaths within the royal family. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024 Our ruling In a radio interview, Trump repeated familiar false refrains. Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024 Another common refrain is that permitting later work hours allows high school students opportunities similar to varsity athletes whose games often go later than state law allows teens to work. Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024 Conversations with these parents—all of whom live in the New York City area, and whose kids attend a mix of public, charter, and private schools—hit common refrains. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2024 Back in the ’80s, that was a familiar refrain, especially among adults wary of the effect that electronic devices could have on developing young minds. Peter Debruge, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024 Amid Israel's ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip, her refrain serves as a reminder of the steep risks local reporters face to share unfiltered accounts of what is unraveling on the ground. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'refrain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English refreynen, from Anglo-French refreiner, refreindre, from Latin refrenare, from re- + frenum bridle — more at frenum

Noun

Middle English refreyn, from Middle French refrain, alteration of Old French refrait melody, response, from past participle of refraindre to break up, moderate, from Vulgar Latin *refrangere, alteration of Latin refringere — more at refract

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of refrain was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near refrain

Cite this Entry

“Refrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refrain. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

refrain

1 of 2 verb
re·​frain ri-ˈfrān How to pronounce refrain (audio)
: to hold oneself back
refrain from laughing

refrain

2 of 2 noun
: a regularly repeated phrase or verse of a poem or song : chorus

More from Merriam-Webster on refrain

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