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refrain

/ɹɪˈfɹeɪn/noun, verb2 syllables

Refrain means: choose not to consume.

Synonyms for refrain5

noun, as in the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers

verb, as in choose not to consume

abstain, desist

verb, as in resist doing something

forbear

also used for refrain

old saw

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Opposites of refrain

What does refrain mean?3

verb

1

choose not to consume“I abstain from alcohol”

2

resist doing something“He refrained from hitting him back”

noun

1

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

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with refrain?60

Show 40 near rhymes

All 60 rhymes for refrain, grouped by syllable

Refrain in a sentence

  • Please refrain from smoking, while the non-smoking signs are on.Zifre
  • For the sake of those around you, please refrain from smoking in the office.Luornu
  • Please fasten your seat belts, and kindly refrain from smoking.Eldad
  • He could not refrain from smiling, though with a slight sense of guilt.CM
  • The soldier really could not refrain from kissing her.Hybrid
  • We agreed to refrain from smoking while we are at work.Eldad
  • My physician advised me to refrain from alcohol for the time being.CK
  • I cannot refrain from expressing my opinion about the affair.unknown

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of refrain

as a noun

plural
refrains

as a verb

past tense
refrained
present participle
refraining
third-person singular
refrains
past participle
refrained