Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun refrain

1 sense of refrain

Sense 1
refrain, chorus -- (the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers)
       => music -- (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Antonyms of verb refrain

1 of 2 senses of refrain

Sense 1
refrain, forbear -- (resist doing something; "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping")
       Antonym of act (Sense 1)
      => act, move -- (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel")

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb refrain

2 senses of refrain

Sense 1
refrain, forbear -- (resist doing something; "He refrained from hitting him back"; "she could not forbear weeping")

Sense 2
abstain, refrain, desist -- (choose not to consume; "I abstain from alcohol")