refrains; refrained; refraining
formal
: to stop yourself from doing something that you want to do
I was going to make a joke but I refrained.
—usually + fromPlease refrain from smoking.
She refrained from saying what she truly felt.
plural refrains
1
: a phrase or verse that is repeated regularly in a poem or song : chorus
2
: a comment or statement that is often repeated
A common/familiar refrain among teachers these days is that the schools need more funding.
Cite this Entry
“Refrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/refrain. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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