refrain

Meaning

Verb

1. (archaic, transitive) To hold back, to restrain (someone or something).
2. (archaic, reflexive) To show restraint; to hold oneself back.
3. (archaic, transitive) To repress (a desire, emotion etc.); to check or curb.
4. (intransitive) To stop oneself from some action or interference; to abstain; to eschew
5. (rare, regional, transitive) To abstain from (food or drink).

Noun

1. The chorus or burden of a song repeated at the end of each verse or stanza.
2. (broadly) A much repeated comment, complaint, or saying.

Synonyms

chorus

abstain

hold back

avoid

desist

forbear

restrain oneself

burden

cease

stop

🛑

suppress

eschew

hold

decline

forego

forgo

keep back

keep oneself

melody

refuse

restrain

cancel

forbearance

forebear

deny oneself

abnegate

free

🆓

harbinger

band

abstinence

hold down

hold off

keep

stand off

tell again and again

mean

be temperate

patient

postpone

prophesy

quit

be abstemious

repeat

🔁

repress

reserve

resist

embrass

retain

say

🗣️

scorn

Translations

Refrain

refrain

ritornello

refrein

estribillo

Kehrreim

refrão

επωδός

απέχω

abstenerse

se retenir

estribilho

trattenersi

inhouden

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹɪˈfɹeɪn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: refreynen

Cognate with Occitan: refranhs

In summary

From Middle English refreynen, from Anglo-Norman refraindre, Middle French refreindre (from Latin refringere), and Anglo-Norman refrener, Middle French refrener (from Latin refrenare).