refrain

re·frain ¹  (r-frn)

v. re·frained, re·frain·ing, re·frains

v.intr.

To hold oneself back; forbear: refrained from swearing.

v.tr. Archaic

To restrain or hold back; curb.

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[Middle English refreinen, from Old French refrener, to restrain, from Latin refrnre : re-, re- + frnre, to restrain (from frnum, bridle, from frendere, to grind; see ghrendh- in Indo-European roots).]

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re·frainer n.

re·frainment n.

Synonyms: refrain¹, abstain, forbear¹
These verbs mean to keep or prevent oneself from doing or saying something: refrained from commenting; abstained from smoking; can't forbear criticizing them.

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refrain ¹

Verb

refrain from to keep oneself from doing [Latin refrenare to check with a bridle]

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refrain ²

Noun

1. a frequently repeated part of a song

2. a much repeated saying or idea [Latin refringere to break into pieces]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	refrain - the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers chorus music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner song, vocal - a short musical composition with words; "a successful musical must have at least three good songs" tra-la, tra-la-la - a set of nonsensical syllables used while humming a refrain
Verb	1.	refrain - resist doing something; "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping" forbear leave alone, leave behind, leave - leave unchanged or undisturbed or refrain from taking; "leave it as is"; "leave the young fawn alone"; "leave the flowers that you see in the park behind" let it go - not act; "He thought of a reply but let it go" abstain - refrain from voting spare, save - refrain from harming forbear, hold back - refrain from doing; "she forbore a snicker" help oneself, help - abstain from doing; always used with a negative; "I can't help myself--I have to smoke"; "She could not help watching the sad spectacle" stand by - not act or do anything; "He just stood by when the police beat up the demonstrators" sit out - not participate in (an activity, such as a dance or a sports event); "He sat out the game" act, move - perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel"
	2.	refrain - choose not to consume; "I abstain from alcohol" desist, abstain fast - abstain from eating; "Before the medical exam, you must fast" fast - abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons; "Catholics sometimes fast during Lent" keep off, avoid - refrain from certain foods or beverages; "I keep off drugs"; "During Ramadan, Muslims avoid tobacco during the day" teetotal - practice teetotalism and abstain from the consumption of alcoholic beverages

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refrain ¹

verb stop, avoid, give up, cease, do without, renounce, abstain, eschew, leave off, desist, forbear, kick (informal)

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refrain ²

noun chorus, song, tune, melody

Translations

refrain [rɪˈfreɪn] vi to refrain from doing → abstenerse de hacer n (MUS etc) → estribillo

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refrain [rɪˈfreɪn] vi to refrain from doing → s'abstenir de faire n → refrain m

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refrain [rɪˈfreɪn] vi to refrain from doing sth → etw unterlassen n (of song) → Refrain m

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refrain [rɪˈfreɪn] vi to refrain from doing → trattenersi dal fare n → ritornello