Refrain
verb
To stop oneself from doing something.
She had to refrain from laughing at his mistake.
Often appears as...
- refrain from laughing
- refrain from speaking
noun
Repeated part of a song or poem.
The refrain of the song is very catchy.
Often appears as...
- catchy refrain
- song's refrain
verb
Avoid, usually something you want to do but shouldn't.
You should refrain from smoking cigars.
Often appears as...
- refrain from smoking
- refrain from eating
noun
Phrase or verse repeating at intervals in a song or poem.
The refrain was repeated several times throughout the poem.
Often appears as...
- repeated refrain
- poem's refrain
verb
To stop oneself from doing something.
She had to refrain from laughing at his mistake.
Often appears as...
- refrain from laughing
- refrain from speaking
noun
Repeated part of a song or poem.
The refrain of the song is very catchy.
Often appears as...
- catchy refrain
- song's refrain
verb
Avoid, usually something you want to do but shouldn't.
You should refrain from smoking cigars.
Often appears as...
- refrain from smoking
- refrain from eating
noun
Phrase or verse repeating at intervals in a song or poem.
The refrain was repeated several times throughout the poem.
Often appears as...
- repeated refrain
- poem's refrain
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Self-Control
Used when showing self-control or resistance to something tempting.
He had to refrain from eating another slice of cake.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Restraint
Expresses emotional restraint in sensitive or intense situations.
Despite her anger, she refrained from yelling.
Pro Tip 3/3Formal Context
Often used in formal or polite requests asking someone not to do something.
Please refrain from smoking in the building.
Pro Tip 1/3Self-Control
Used when showing self-control or resistance to something tempting.
He had to refrain from eating another slice of cake.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Restraint
Expresses emotional restraint in sensitive or intense situations.
Despite her anger, she refrained from yelling.
Pro Tip 3/3Formal Context
Often used in formal or polite requests asking someone not to do something.
Please refrain from smoking in the building.
Pro Tip 1/3Self-Control
Used when showing self-control or resistance to something tempting.
He had to refrain from eating another slice of cake.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Restraint
Expresses emotional restraint in sensitive or intense situations.
Despite her anger, she refrained from yelling.
Pro Tip 3/3Formal Context
Often used in formal or polite requests asking someone not to do something.
Please refrain from smoking in the building.
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Video examples
Social Monogamy vs....
love with someone and you will make a monogamous commitment to them and that means you're in love with them and when you're in love you won't want to have sex with other people and the truth is if you make a monogamous commitment to someone you love you will still want to have sex with other people you will refrain from it it will be difficult and
Video examples
Kim Stanley Robinson:...
refrained from burning it in the first place. This monetary and fiscal policy reoriented a huge proportion of human work to decarbonizing projects, and there were a lot of them ready to go. Regenerative agriculture was one giant area, very important, as people still needed to eat while saving the world.
Video examples
Sebastian Deterding:...
and we're communicating something by choosing to be silent. And in the same way that we cannot not communicate, we cannot not whatever we do or refrain from doing, whatever we put out there as a piece of design, into the world, has a persuasive component. It tries to affect people.
Video examples
Mining literature for...
refrain from making broad generalizations about a text or establishing quick, simple judgements about a character. Explore each facet of your subject carefully and make sure to consider multiple influences on events. Explain the tension of multiple forces that create the story.
Video examples
How museums help...
or there should be I think in there in the wake of the black lives matter movement which is really really caught the you know caught the attention of people right around the world listening more has been one of the key you know one of the key sort of refrains that
Video examples
Stephen Burt: Why people...
as well as its modern sense, courage. This sun is not afraid to show his face. But the person in the poem is afraid. He might have been up all night. That is the reveal Stevens saves for that fourth stanza, where run away has become a refrain.
Video examples
Kaki King rocks out to...
For those of you who I'll be fortunate enough to meet afterwards, you could please refrain from saying, "Oh my god, you're so much shorter in real life." Because it's like the stage is an optical illusion,
Video examples
Thinking your way out of...
explorer who said I was never lost but it was bewildered once for three days that is a very good refrain somebody in serious need of a refrain was a friend of mine who was asked to put together a
Video examples
Why museums are...
What is a curator to do? I believe that the War Gods should be returned. This might be a startling answer. After all, my conclusion contradicts the refrain of the world's most famous
Video examples
The myth of the stolen...
Back at camp, the villagers were fishing with barbasco poison, cooking, and eating. Only the shaman’s little sister refrained. Then, everyone else fell into a deep sleep.
Video examples
Social Monogamy vs....
love with someone and you will make a monogamous commitment to them and that means you're in love with them and when you're in love you won't want to have sex with other people and the truth is if you make a monogamous commitment to someone you love you will still want to have sex with other people you will refrain from it it will be difficult and
Video examples
Kim Stanley Robinson:...
refrained from burning it in the first place. This monetary and fiscal policy reoriented a huge proportion of human work to decarbonizing projects, and there were a lot of them ready to go. Regenerative agriculture was one giant area, very important, as people still needed to eat while saving the world.
Video examples
Sebastian Deterding:...
and we're communicating something by choosing to be silent. And in the same way that we cannot not communicate, we cannot not whatever we do or refrain from doing, whatever we put out there as a piece of design, into the world, has a persuasive component. It tries to affect people.
Video examples
Mining literature for...
refrain from making broad generalizations about a text or establishing quick, simple judgements about a character. Explore each facet of your subject carefully and make sure to consider multiple influences on events. Explain the tension of multiple forces that create the story.
Video examples
How museums help...
or there should be I think in there in the wake of the black lives matter movement which is really really caught the you know caught the attention of people right around the world listening more has been one of the key you know one of the key sort of refrains that
Video examples
Stephen Burt: Why people...
as well as its modern sense, courage. This sun is not afraid to show his face. But the person in the poem is afraid. He might have been up all night. That is the reveal Stevens saves for that fourth stanza, where run away has become a refrain.
Video examples
Kaki King rocks out to...
For those of you who I'll be fortunate enough to meet afterwards, you could please refrain from saying, "Oh my god, you're so much shorter in real life." Because it's like the stage is an optical illusion,
Video examples
Thinking your way out of...
explorer who said I was never lost but it was bewildered once for three days that is a very good refrain somebody in serious need of a refrain was a friend of mine who was asked to put together a
Video examples
Why museums are...
What is a curator to do? I believe that the War Gods should be returned. This might be a startling answer. After all, my conclusion contradicts the refrain of the world's most famous
Video examples
The myth of the stolen...
Back at camp, the villagers were fishing with barbasco poison, cooking, and eating. Only the shaman’s little sister refrained. Then, everyone else fell into a deep sleep.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Roseanne Barr
American Actress
I actually regard Facebook as a huge bore, but I cannot refrain from participating in it. I guess I crave the feeling of hope it gives me to think that today will be different from yesterday, that I will find an interesting comment or poke or video, and on the extremely rare occasion when that happens, I am just thrilled.
Quote examples
Zygmunt Bauman
Polish Sociologist
We live in a globalising world. That means that all of us, consciously or not, depend on each other. Whatever we do or refrain from doing affects the lives of people who live in places we'll never visit.
Quote examples
Erica Jong
American Novelist
Sadly, because of the enormous gap between rich and poor, some mothers can afford helpers, but many can't. Those who can would be kinder to refrain from criticizing other women.
Quote examples
James Gleick
American Author
Children and scientists share an outlook on life. 'If I do this, what will happen?' is both the motto of the child at play and the defining refrain of the physical scientist.
Quote examples
N. T. Rama Rao, Jr.
Indian Actor
I am a very shy person who is just close to himself. So I would refrain from talking about my personal life.
Quote examples
Horace
Roman Poet
Refrain from asking what going to happen tomorrow, and everyday that fortune grants you, count as gain.
Quote examples
Karen Civil
American Businesswoman
Never stray from life's purpose. Refrain from counting someone else's blessings instead of your own.
Quote examples
William Shakespeare
English Playwright
Who could refrain that had a heart to love and in that heart courage to make love known?
Quote examples
Jill Sobule
American Musician
As a musician, I have always refrained from criticizing another artist.
Quote examples
Marcus Aurelius
Roman Leader
To refrain from imitation is the best revenge.
Quote examples
Roseanne Barr
American Actress
I actually regard Facebook as a huge bore, but I cannot refrain from participating in it. I guess I crave the feeling of hope it gives me to think that today will be different from yesterday, that I will find an interesting comment or poke or video, and on the extremely rare occasion when that happens, I am just thrilled.
Quote examples
Zygmunt Bauman
Polish Sociologist
We live in a globalising world. That means that all of us, consciously or not, depend on each other. Whatever we do or refrain from doing affects the lives of people who live in places we'll never visit.
Quote examples
Erica Jong
American Novelist
Sadly, because of the enormous gap between rich and poor, some mothers can afford helpers, but many can't. Those who can would be kinder to refrain from criticizing other women.
Quote examples
James Gleick
American Author
Children and scientists share an outlook on life. 'If I do this, what will happen?' is both the motto of the child at play and the defining refrain of the physical scientist.
Quote examples
N. T. Rama Rao, Jr.
Indian Actor
I am a very shy person who is just close to himself. So I would refrain from talking about my personal life.
Quote examples
Horace
Roman Poet
Refrain from asking what going to happen tomorrow, and everyday that fortune grants you, count as gain.
Quote examples
Karen Civil
American Businesswoman
Never stray from life's purpose. Refrain from counting someone else's blessings instead of your own.
Quote examples
William Shakespeare
English Playwright
Who could refrain that had a heart to love and in that heart courage to make love known?
Quote examples
Jill Sobule
American Musician
As a musician, I have always refrained from criticizing another artist.
Quote examples
Marcus Aurelius
Roman Leader
To refrain from imitation is the best revenge.
Example 1 of 10
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