refrain

/rɪˈfreɪn/

/rɪˈfreɪn/

Other forms: refrained; refraining; refrains

When someone burps in a quiet classroom it can be hard to refrain from laughing. Use the verb refrain if you have a sudden impulse to do something and you have stopped yourself from doing it.

It's usually hard to refrain from doing something: you might find it difficult to refrain from eating dessert after dinner, for example — especially when your aunt makes her double chocolate chunk brownies. The Latin word refrēnāre is formed from the prefix re-, "back," plus frēnāre, "to hold a horse back with a bridle." No need to hold back when using refrain as a noun; it’s the part of a song or poem that repeats.

Definitions of refrain

1. verb

   resist doing something
   “He refrained from hitting him back”

   synonyms: forbear

   antonyms:

   act

   perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

   types:

   leave, leave alone, leave behind

   leave unchanged or undisturbed or refrain from taking

   let it go

   not act

   abstain

   refrain from voting

   save, spare

   refrain from harming

   forbear, hold back

   refrain from doing

   help, help oneself

   abstain from doing; always used with a negative

   stand by

   not act or do anything

   sit out

   not participate in (an activity, such as a dance or a sports event)

   let

   leave unchanged

   favor, favour

   treat gently or carefully
2. verb

   choose not to consume
   synonyms: abstain, desist

   types:

   fast

   abstain from eating

   fast

   abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons

   avoid, keep off

   refrain from certain foods or beverages

   teetotal

   practice teetotalism and abstain from the consumption of alcoholic beverages

   diet

   eat sparingly, for health reasons or to lose weight

   diet

   follow a regimen or a diet, as for health reasons
3. noun

   the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers
   synonyms: chorus

   types:

   tra-la, tra-la-la

   a set of nonsensical syllables used while humming a refrain

   type of:

   music

   an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner