refrain

verb
UK: /rɪˈfreɪn/
US: /rɪˈfreɪn/

  1. To stop yourself from doing something.

    1. I had to refrain from laughing.
    2. Please refrain from talking during the performance; we want to refrain disturbing others.

  2. To choose not to do something, especially something you want to do.

    1. They asked us to refrain from talking.
    2. He had to refrain from reacting when provoked; he would refrain because consequences matter.

Synonyms

abstain chorus desist
refrain noun

  1. A part of a song or poem that is repeated.

    1. The refrain is catchy.
    2. The song has a memorable refrain; this refrain sticks in your head.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "refrain" in English means: To stop yourself from doing something., To choose not to do something, especially something you want to do..

The phonetic transcription of "refrain" is /rɪˈfreɪn/ in British English and /rɪˈfreɪn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "refrain": abstain, chorus, desist.

Example usage of "refrain": "I had to refrain from laughing.". More examples on the page.