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Showing results for refrain. Search instead for reframin.
Definitions

refrain

[ri-freyn] / rɪˈfreɪn /
NOUN
chorus of musical piece
Synonyms
STRONGEST
melody theme
STRONG
burden music song strain tune
WEAK
undersong
Antonyms
STRONG
silence
VERB
do without; keep from doing
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abstain avoid cease curb desist forgo halt renounce resist restrain
STRONG
arrest check eschew forbear inhibit interrupt keep pass quit stop withhold
WEAK
be temperate give up go on the wagon leave off not do pass up sit out take the cure take the pledge
Antonyms
STRONGEST
carry on continue indulge keep on use
STRONG
aid allow assist encourage help let go release
WEAK
do go ahead jump in

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Strategy disclosed Monday something it rarely does — refrain from buying bitcoin.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

"Private individuals cannot demand that automobile manufacturers refrain from placing passenger cars with internal combustion engines on the market" ahead of European Union deadlines, it said.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

Oil prices edged lower and stocks reversed some of Thursday’s losses as U.S. officials sought to calm markets and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested Israel would refrain from future strikes against Iranian oil fields.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

The refrain “I was just doing my job” wears thin awfully fast.

From Slate • Mar. 16, 2026

He then could not refrain from revealing how one of Cambridge’s great men had on occasion also forgotten his chemistry.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.