choose to refrain; " I abstain from alcohol"

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

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

To hold back; to restrain; to keep within prescribed bounds; to curb; to govern.

To abstain from

To keep one's self from action or interference; to hold aloof; to forbear; to abstain.

The burden of a song; a phrase or verse which recurs at the end of each of the separate stanzas or divisions of a poetic composition.

A phrase or strain repeated now and then throughout a poem or song; often, a verse or chorus of a song repeated at the end of each stanza.

To hold back; do without; check oneself; as, to refrain from doing a thing.

To curb: to restrain.

To keep from action: to forbear.

Recurrent phrase or burden of a song.

To abstain; for bear.

To hold within bounds; abstain from action; forbear.

A strain repeated at intervals, as in a song; a burden.

The burden of a song or that which is repeated at the end of each stanza; a kind of musical repetition. See Refract.

To hold back; to restrain.

To keep one's self from action; to forbear.

To restrain; to keep from action; to keep one's self from action or interference; to forbear.

However, recognizing as you must the delicacy of the situation resulting from the position I occupy and the relation that I sustain to the administration, you will, I know, refrain from saying and doing anything that will place me in an embarrassing position before the public and before the administration with which I am identified. – The Facts of Reconstruction by John R. Lynch

James Hope said to me last night that we should refrain from taking vengeance. – The Northern Iron 1907 by George A. Birmingham

The refrain grew more and more insistent. – Leaves from a Field Note-Book by J. H. Morgan

Moreover, I have the misfortune of always seeing the comic side of things, and I have not sufficient strength of mind to repress myself and to refrain from saying what I think. – Maximina by Armando Palacio Valdés

" With tears I prayed him to refrain. – A Struggle for Rome, Vol. 2 (of 3) by Felix Dahn

When he saw her unhappy, he wished to guard her; when he saw that she was lonely, he wished to comfort her; when he came upon her, once, at the stern, and saw that she had tears in her eyes, it called for all his strength to refrain from taking her in his arms and soothing her. – The Sea Bride by Ben Ames Williams

I can't refrain; And shall my tears, my last tears, flow in vain? – The Poetical Works of Edward Young, Volume 2 by Edward Young

Silverbridge would not shake hands with him, but could not refrain from offering him a chair. – The Duke's Children by Anthony Trollope

" Mad, no doubt," answered Tom, but followed the lunatic's counsel, nevertheless, so far as to refrain from offering the other a lift in the well- appointed brougham, with its burly coachman, waiting to convey him to Ecclesfield Manor, though his late fellow- traveller was proceeding in that direction on foot. – M. or N. "Similia similibus curantur." by G.J. Whyte-Melville

Then came the refrain- Oh, how happy I am! – Abbé Aubain and Mosaics by Prosper Mérimée

After this had been agreed upon, he called his men together, and offered his kingdom to any one who could refrain from drinking. – Plutarch's Lives, Volume I (of 4) by Plutarch

" It is safe for people who cannot keep their ears open, to refrain from questions," Meredith answered. – Pine Needles by Susan Bogert Warner

He was urged to refrain from reading this paper and to invite Tassis. – Project Gutenberg History of The Netherlands, 1555-1623, Complete by John Lothrop Motley

So it was with great eagerness that he looked forward to the Christmas party, for Peace had solemnly promised to be there in her wheel- chair, and it was hard to refrain from telling the whole story to his boy before the time was ripe. – Heart of Gold by Ruth Alberta Brown

Their attitude was such that Fyles could not refrain from a half- bitter, half- laughing comment as he came up. – The Law-Breakers by Ridgwell Cullum

But may not a majority refrain from pressing its rights to the utmost? – A Christmas Garland by Max Beerbohm

I love you, love you with every fibre of my being, and you- you love, yet you refrain. – Bandit Love by Juanita Savage

Hodder could not refrain from smiling a little at the banker's conception. – The Inside of the Cup, Complete by Winston Churchill Last Updated: March 5, 2009