refrain

1 of 2

verb

re·​frain ri-ˈfrān 

refrained; refraining; refrains

transitive verb

archaic : curb, restrain

intransitive verb

: to keep oneself from doing, feeling, or indulging in something and especially from following a passing impulse

refrained from having dessert

refrainment

ri-ˈfrān-mənt 

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

Synonyms of refrain

Verb

• keep (from)
• avoid
• withhold (from)
• abstain (from)

Noun

• chorus

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

One of the tenant union’s requests was for the city to use the health department’s authority to make emergency repairs to the buildings and refrain from condemning the property. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026

The Houthis refrained from engaging Saudi and Western targets during the first round of the conflict that began in February. — David Brennan, ABC News, 23 July 2026

Noun

But on The Blueprint, Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Bink made a habit of letting the singers from old R&B records wail away beneath Jay-Z’s verses, or croon refrains that Jay would talk back to and thread into his rhymes. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 14 July 2026

The common refrain was simple, that if a referee issues repeated warnings for fouls, at some point a point has to come off, or the warnings stop meaning anything. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

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

Rhymes for refrain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

Kids Definition

refrain

1 of 2 verb

re·​frain ri-ˈfrān 

: to hold oneself back

refrain from laughing

refrain

2 of 2 noun

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