to abstain from an impulse to say or do something (often fol. by from )

I refrained from telling him what I thought.

Archaic . to curb.

verb

do , go ahead , jump in

noun

burden , melody , music , song , strain , theme , tune , undersongnotes:refrain means to choose not to do something or partake of something; restrain means to immobilize by force or to forbid an action

verb

abstain , arrest , avoid , be temperate , cease , check , curb , desist , eschew , forbear , forgo , give up , go on the wagon , halt , inhibit , interrupt , keep , leave off , not do , pass , pass up , quit , renounce , resist , restrain , sit out , stop , take the cure , take the pledge , withholdnotes:refrain means to choose not to do something or partake of something; restrain means to immobilize by force or to forbid an action , hold off , withhold , chorus , forego , music , song , tune