refuse

¹

[ ri-fyooz ]

verb (used with object)

, re·fused, re·fus·ing.

1. to decline to accept (something offered):

   to refuse an award.

   Synonyms: rebuff

   Antonyms: take, accept

2. to decline to give; deny (a request, demand, etc.):

   to refuse permission.

3. to express a determination not to (do something):

   to refuse to discuss the question.

4. to decline to submit to.
5. (of a horse) to decline to leap over (a barrier).
6. to decline to accept (a suitor) in marriage.
7. Military. to bend or curve back (the flank units of a military force) so that they face generally to the flank rather than the front.
8. Obsolete. to renounce.

verb (used without object)

, re·fused, re·fus·ing.

1. to decline acceptance, consent, or compliance.

refuse

²

[ ref-yoos ]

noun

1. something that is discarded as worthless or useless; rubbish; trash; garbage.

adjective

1. rejected as worthless; discarded:

   refuse matter.

refuse

¹

/ ˈrɛfjuːs /

noun

1. 1. anything thrown away; waste; rubbish
   2. ( as modifier )

      a refuse collection

refuse

²

/ rɪˈfjuːz /

verb

1. tr to decline to accept (something offered)

   to refuse a present

   to refuse promotion

2. to decline to give or grant (something) to (a person, organization, etc)
3. when tr, takes an infinitive to express determination not (to do something); decline

   he refuses to talk about it

4. (of a horse) to be unwilling to take (a jump), as by swerving or stopping
5. tr (of a woman) to declare one's unwillingness to accept (a suitor) as a husband

Derived Forms

• reˈfusable, adjective
• reˈfuser, noun

Other Words From

• re·fusa·ble adjective
• re·fuser noun
• quasi-re·fused adjective
• unre·fusa·ble adjective
• unre·fused adjective
• unre·fusing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of refuse¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English refusen, from Middle French refuser, Old French ultimately from Latin refūsus, past participle of refundere “to pour back”; refund ¹

Origin of refuse²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English from Middle French, Old French refus “dross, waste,” derivative of refuser to refuse ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of refuse¹

C15: from Old French refuser to refuse ¹

Origin of refuse²

C14: from Old French refuser , from Latin refundere to pour back; see refund

Synonym Study

Refuse, decline, reject, spurn all imply nonacceptance of something. To decline is milder and more courteous than to refuse, which is direct and often emphatic in expressing determination not to accept what is offered or proposed: to refuse a bribe; to decline an invitation. To reject is even more positive and definite than refuse : to reject a suitor. To spurn is to reject with scorn: to spurn a bribe.

Example Sentences

The ruling itself won’t matter too much—the US can appeal it, and because the US is refusing to appoint new members to the WTO’s appellate board, the end result is legal limbo.

From Quartz

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said earlier this month that Democrats refuse to go below $2 trillion.

From Fortune

Some customers refuse to dine altogether if they can’t be seated outside.

From Eater

So, in 2017, Coel walked away from a $1 million offer by Netflix to buy the rights to I May Destroy You after the streaming giant refused to include copyright royalties in the deal.

From Ozy

What we can say about younger audiences is that they refuse to define themselves by any media brand.

From Digiday

And now to this list of New York pols who refuse to go away, it may be possible to add another name: Vito Fossella.

From The Daily Beast

And why would its ostensible spokesperson refuse to answer yes/no questions about them?

From The Daily Beast

“I tell them they are ruining their life, but I will not refuse to do it,” Bensoussan said.

From The Daily Beast

I refuse to be repeatedly mistreated especially by someone who claims to love me.

From The Daily Beast

Another time he altered the program so that the high score table would refuse to display the initials of one of his colleagues.

From The Daily Beast

She thought, knowing Janet to be at liberty and never dreaming that she would refuse: "I am saved--for the present."

From Project Gutenberg

They would certainly ask that question, and perhaps refuse the loan.

From Project Gutenberg

He shall eat butter and honey, that he may know to refuse the evil, and to choose the good.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, we must try our luck with a regulation sabre; they can't well refuse it; ours is the stronger and bigger man.

From Project Gutenberg

It seemed quite the forlornest hope I had ever heard of, but Jack's distress was so acute that I hadn't the heart to refuse.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• debris
• rubbish
• trash
• waste