refrain from attending

USAGE SUMMARY

"refrain from attending" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that you are not taking part in an event or activity. For example, "I will refrain from attending tonight's party due to not feeling well."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

The University of Illinois recently came under fire for urging its employees to refrain from attending political rallies and from displaying campaign bumper stickers on campus.

The New York Times

Orr went on to apologize to "Smart, Oklahoma State, Tubby Smith, and the Texas Tech Men's basketball program," and agreed to refrain from attending any more Texas Tech games this season.

The New Yorker

An important distinction must be made, however, that in matters of public worship it was only in the Temple, not the synagogue, that considerations of cleanness applied; thus, no one would refrain from attending or participating in synagogue worship by reason of having contracted uncleanness.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Religion may command that believers dress in a certain way (what Peter Jones calls an "intrinsic burden"), not that believers refrain from attending school or going to work (Jones 1994).

SEP

One diplomat said his embassy's letter from the Chinese embassy requested obliquely that they "refrain from attending any activity directed against China".

Wikipedia

On the eve of the protest, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that he fully supported the marchers, but would refrain from attending the event.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

He even refrains from attending scientific conferences, preferring to stay out of the limelight and in his laboratory.

The Guardian

This year, to add further insult, most Western leaders have refrained from attending the celebration, a decision that many Russians will see as confirmation of their continued struggle against the West.

The Economist

In later years, Levitt, always fiercely defensive of her private life, refrained from attending launches of her work or giving interviews about it - although she did emerge to speak to the New York Times in 2002, and seemed as curious as ever about the world outside.

The Guardian - Arts

Teller himself refrained from attending the test he claimed not to feel welcome at the Pacific Proving Grounds and instead saw its results on a seismograph in the basement of a hall in Berkeley.

Wikipedia

A provision of the prevailing election law provided that anyone elected, even improperly, could not be challenged after twelve months, so on legal advice Cobden refrained from attending council or committee meetings until February 1890.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "refrain from attending" when you want to emphasize a deliberate and conscious decision to avoid an event or activity, often due to ethical, personal, or professional reasons.

Common error

While "refrain from attending" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversations. In such situations, consider using simpler alternatives like "won't be there" or "can't make it".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrain from attending" functions as a verb phrase expressing a deliberate decision to abstain from participating in a specific event or activity. It showcases the active avoidance, as stated by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "refrain from attending" is a grammatically correct expression indicating a deliberate decision not to participate in an event, as confirmed by Ludwig. While examples are rare, its usage spans across News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias suggesting a neutral to formal register. When choosing alternatives, consider formality: "decline to attend" offers a formal tone, while "avoid attending" indicates evasion. Use "refrain from attending" to emphasize conscious choice, but opt for simpler phrases in casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decline to attend

A formal way of refusing an invitation or participation.

abstain from going to

Uses "abstain" emphasizing a voluntary decision to not participate.

avoid attending

Suggests a conscious effort to evade participation, often due to discomfort or negativity.

forgo attendance at

A formal alternative, implying a sacrifice or deliberate omission.

not participate in

A more general way to say you won't be involved.

opt out of attending

Indicates a choice to not take part in something.

stay away from

Emphasizes physical distance and avoidance of the event.

pass on attending

An informal way to say you will not attend.

skip attending

Informal term, it describes missing an event usually with no explicit reason.

give the event a miss

A British informal way of saying not to attend the event.

FAQs

How can I use "refrain from attending" in a sentence?

You can use "refrain from attending" to express a conscious decision to not participate in an event. For example: "Due to a prior engagement, I must "refrain from attending" the conference."

What are some alternatives to "refrain from attending"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "decline to attend", "avoid attending", or "not participate in".

Is it more appropriate to use "refrain from attending" or "avoid attending"?

"Refrain from attending" implies a more conscious and deliberate decision, often for moral or ethical reasons, while "avoid attending" suggests evading something unpleasant or undesirable.

When is it best to use "refrain from attending" over simpler alternatives?

Use "refrain from attending" in formal contexts where you want to clearly communicate a deliberate and thoughtful decision to abstain from an event. In informal situations, consider alternatives like "won't be there".