refrain

Definition of refrainnext
as in chorus
a part of a song or hymn that is repeated every so often I didn't know the verses of the song, so I only sang on the refrain

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of refrain And his demand for answers has become a familiar refrain to anyone who’s followed the attorney’s rise to fame. — Ryan Young, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 Trump has a keen understanding of an entrance, a refrain, a music cue, and, perhaps above all, an audience. — Erik Forrest Jackson, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2026 Bookended by drone shots of the Macedonian countryside and a somber cello refrain by Novogradska, this 86-minute doc is otherwise composed of scoreless interviews with subjects seated in front of black curtains and captured in medium range. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 Many commenters were quick to point out that the comments were an example of a common refrain on the internet, where mothers are often punished for making time for themselves. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for refrain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refrain
chorus
Noun
  • Where a chorus should hit, nearly everything drops out, leaving behind those drums to face off against the steady, impersonal rumble of a sub-bass.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Panels also featured decorations that included hearts, rainbows, sequins, a Star of David, a chef’s hat, a chorus line of dancers, teddy bears, and a panda.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Refrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refrain. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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