agree to refrain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "agree to refrain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where individuals or parties consent to avoid certain actions or behaviors. Example: "We hereby agree to refrain from discussing sensitive topics during our meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

He should agree to refrain from trying to arraign Israel in the International Criminal Court for its past actions.

The Economist

Nevertheless, he responded to Mr. Bloomberg with a counteroffer: both sides could agree to refrain from running television ads between now and November.

The New York Times

Insiders agree to refrain from selling shares, typically for at least six months after initial public offerings, to prevent them from inundating the market with additional stock.

The New York Times

To get his out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed, Mr. Icahn must agree to refrain from running a proxy fight against Dell's board or filing a lawsuit against the company, according to a letter sent to him by the committee.

The New York Times

Google may have to agree to refrain from cutting off ITA data to other companies, for example, and the company's conduct in the market may fall under supervision for a certain period of time.

The New York Times

REUTERS Dell Offers to Reimburse Icahn for Deal Work, With Strings Attached  |  To get his out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed, Carl C. Icahn must agree to refrain from running a proxy fight against Dell's board or filing a lawsuit against the company, according to a letter sent to him by a special committee of Dell's board.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Apple and the publishers also agreed to refrain from making "most favored nation" arrangements.

The New York Times

The banks agreed to refrain from future violations of securities laws.

The New York Times

Vivendi also agreed to refrain from establishing a pay television service to rival Canal Plus in France.

The New York Times

And both sides have agreed to refrain from publicly disparaging the other.

The New York Times

Both sides have agreed to refrain from making public comments on the substance of the talks.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure clarity by specifying precisely what action or behavior the parties "agree to refrain" from. Ambiguity can lead to misunderstandings and potential breaches of the agreement.

Common error

Avoid using "agree to refrain" without clearly defining the scope of the action being refrained from. Without specific details, the agreement can be easily misinterpreted or rendered unenforceable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "agree to refrain" functions as an infinitive phrase that indicates a formal commitment or undertaking not to engage in a specific action. As Ludwig AI underlines, it is usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

14%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "agree to refrain" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a formal agreement to avoid a specific action. As per Ludwig AI's assessment, this phrase is deemed correct and usable in various writing contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media, Formal & Business documents, and Encyclopedias, it carries a professional and neutral tone. To ensure accuracy and clarity, particularly in legal and official contexts, it's important to precisely define the scope of the action or behavior from which parties are "agreeing to refrain". Alternatives such as "consent to abstain", "commit to abstain" or "promise not to", offer nuanced options for conveying similar meanings with varying levels of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consent to abstain

Replaces "agree" with "consent" and "refrain" with "abstain", both near synonyms. "Consent" implies permission, while "abstain" implies a deliberate choice not to do something.

commit to abstain

Substitutes "agree" with "commit", which emphasizes a stronger obligation or promise.

pledge to avoid

"Pledge" suggests a formal promise, while "avoid" is a broader term than "refrain", encompassing actions to prevent something from happening.

undertake to desist

"Undertake" means to commit to doing something, and "desist" is a formal synonym of "refrain".

promise not to

This is a more straightforward and less formal alternative, suitable for simpler contexts.

vow to abstain

"Vow" implies a solemn promise, often used in more serious or formal situations.

concur to withhold

"Concur" means to agree, and "withhold" implies deliberately holding back from doing something.

assent to not engage

"Assent" indicates formal agreement, and "not engage" is a direct way of saying not to participate in an activity.

stipulate to cease

"Stipulate" suggests a formal agreement or condition, and "cease" means to stop doing something.

accept to forgo

"Accept" implies agreement, while "forgo" means to give up or abstain from something.

FAQs

How can I use "agree to refrain" in a sentence?

You can use "agree to refrain" to indicate a formal commitment to avoid a particular action. For example, "The companies "agreed to refrain" from anti-competitive practices as part of the settlement".

What are some alternatives to "agree to refrain"?

Alternatives include "consent to abstain", "commit to abstain", or "promise not to", depending on the level of formality required.

Is it better to use "agree to refrain" or "promise not to"?

"Agree to refrain" is more formal and suitable for official agreements, while "promise not to" is less formal and better for everyday situations. The best choice depends on the context.

What does it mean when two parties "agree to refrain"?

It means that both parties have formally consented to avoid a specific action or behavior. It often occurs within a legal or contractual agreement, indicating a mutual commitment to "abstain from" something.