Synonyms for refrain
rɪˈfreɪnre·frain

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.0 / 2 votes

1. refrain

   Strains of music may gradually or suddenly cease. A man quits work on the instant; he may discontinue a practise gradually; he quits suddenly and completely; he stops short in what he may or may not resume; he pauses in what he will probably resume. What intermits or is intermitted returns again, as a fever that intermits. Compare ABANDON; DIE; END; REST.

   Synonyms:
   abstain, bring to an end, cease, come to an end, conclude, desist, discontinue, end, end, finish, give over, intermit, leave off, pause, quit, stop, terminate

   Antonyms:
   begin, commence, enter upon, inaugurate, initiate, institute, originate, set about, set going, set in operation, set on foot, start

   Preposition:
   Cease from anger.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.5 / 2 votes

1. refrain

   Synonyms:
   forbear, hold, abstain, keep, restrain, withhold, desist from

   Antonyms:
   indulge, venture, continue, persist

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:4.3 / 4 votes

1. refrain, chorusverb

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

   Synonyms:
   chorus line, chorus

   Antonyms:
   move, act

2. refrain, forbearverb

   resist doing something

   "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping"

   Synonyms:
   desist, forbear, hold back, abstain

   Antonyms:
   move, act

3. abstain, refrain, desistverb

   choose not to consume

   "I abstain from alcohol"

   Synonyms:
   desist, forbear, abstain

   Antonyms:
   act, move

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. refrainverb

   Synonyms:
   restrain, withhold, keep back

2. refrainverb

   Synonyms:
   abstain, forbear, hold one's self back, deny one's self, stay one's hand, keep one's self from indulgence

3. refrainnoun

   Synonyms:
   burden (of a song)

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. refrainverb

   Synonyms:
   restrain, curb, check, forbear, abstain, desist

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:2.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "refrain":

   abstain, chorus, abstaining, avoid, desist

How to pronounce refrain?

How to say refrain in sign language?

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How to use refrain in a sentence?

1. Jeong Joon-hee:

   I can't speak to their intentions, but we hope that the North will refrain from an old practice like this and behave in a manner that's conducive to improving South-North ties.

2. Kathy Lien:

   We never expected the Fed to tighten next month but we were hoping that they would set the stage for a move in September. however if data continues to miss, they may refrain from signalling a change in monetary policy three months forward.

3. André Maurois:

   A great biography should, like the close of a great drama, leave behind it a feeling of serenity. We collect into a small bunch the flowers, the few flowers, which brought sweetness into a life, and present it as an offering to an accomplished destiny. It is the dying refrain of a completed song, the final verse of a finished poem.

4. Hideaki Honma:

   We wanted to refrain from attending while people who were looking forward to the event can not go now.

5. James Dent:

   Intelligence is when you spot a flaw in your boss's reasoning. Wisdom is when you refrain from pointing it out.