refrained; refraining; refrains
: to keep oneself from doing, feeling, or indulging in something and especially from following a passing impulse
refrained from having dessert
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
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
Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 13 Nov. 2024
SpaceX originally refrained from doing so across the 13,000-square-mile area, which is home to over 600,000 residents.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 29 Oct. 2024
There’s that earworm refrain, followed by formidably declarative verses, a powder keg of a chorus and a high-concept bridge.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for refrain 
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Verb
There’s little incentive to refrain from misbehaving in an environment that tolerates bad behavior, said Lewis Morris, who was chief counsel to HHS’ Office of Inspector General from 2002 to 2012.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 13 Nov. 2024
SpaceX originally refrained from doing so across the 13,000-square-mile area, which is home to over 600,000 residents.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
Don't open the food: To prevent foodborne illnesses, refrain from opening and inspecting food.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 29 Oct. 2024
There’s that earworm refrain, followed by formidably declarative verses, a powder keg of a chorus and a high-concept bridge.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for refrain
Articles Related to refrain
Dictionary Entries Near refrain
Cite this Entry
“Refrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/refrain. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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