refrain

The word “refrain” means to stop oneself from doing something; to hold back. In plain terms, to hold yourself back from doing something, or (as a noun) a repeated line in a song or a frequently repeated comment.

“Refrain” is pronounced rih-FRAYN (/ɹɪˈfɹeɪn/ in IPA).

Here is “refrain” used in a sentence: “Please refrain from smoking near the entrance.”

Depending on how it is used, “refrain” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “refrain” comes from Latin. From Old French refrener, from Latin refrenare ("to bridle, hold back"), from re- plus frenum ("a bridle").

“Refrain” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Refrain” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to stop oneself from doing something; to hold back.

Refrain means to stop oneself from doing something in a general sense, often temporarily or in a specific situation, such as asking someone to refrain from talking during a movie. Abstain has a narrower, often more formal use, especially for voting, food, or drink, as in abstaining from alcohol or abstaining from a vote. Refrain is broader and more commonly used in everyday requests.

Refrain and chorus are often used interchangeably for the repeated line or section of a song, but refrain more precisely refers to the repeated phrase itself, while chorus can also describe the group of singers performing it. In poetry, refrain is the standard term for a recurring line at the end of each verse.

This use of refrain describes a frequently repeated remark, complaint, or idea that someone brings up again and again, similar to how a musical refrain recurs throughout a song. It carries a slightly weary or resigned tone, suggesting the listener has heard it many times before.