rebut

American  

[ri-buht] / rɪˈbʌt /

verb (used with object)

• rebuts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• rebutted,
  past participle,  past
• rebutting
  present participle

1. to refute by evidence or argument.

   Synonyms:

   confute, disprove

2. to oppose by contrary proof.

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verb (used without object)

• rebuts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• rebutted,
  past participle,  past
• rebutting
  present participle

1. to provide some evidence or argument that refutes or opposes.

rebut British  

/ rɪˈbʌt /

verb

1. (tr) to refute or disprove, esp by offering a contrary contention or argument

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• rebuttal
  noun
• rebuttable
  adjective
• unrebuttable
  adjective
• unrebutted
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• rebutting
  present
• rebutted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• rebut
  simple
• rebuts
  simple
• have rebutted
  perfect
• has rebutted
  perfect
• am rebutting
  progressive
• are rebutting
  progressive
• is rebutting
  progressive
• have been rebutting
  perfect progressive
• has been rebutting
  perfect progressive

Past

• rebutted
  simple
• had rebutted
  perfect
• was rebutting
  progressive
• were rebutting
  progressive
• had been rebutting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will rebut
  simple
• will have rebutted
  perfect
• will be rebutting
  progressive
• will have been rebutting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of rebut

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English reb(o)uten, from Old French rebouter, equivalent to re- re- + bouter butt ³

Explanation

To rebut is to argue against something. If your parents say you're too young and irresponsible to drive, you can rebut their claim by ticking off examples of your responsibility. When you argue against something, you rebut that position or argument. Your school's principal might rebut your teacher's argument that the class is overcrowded by pointing out that there could legally be five more kids in the class. The teacher could rebut the principal's rebuttal by observing that there aren't enough books or seats for the kids in the classroom now. Rebut comes from an old French word rebuter, meaning "to thrust back."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rebut rebuts rebutted rebutting

"We view it both important and with precedent to rebut an incorrect scientific claim made in the DOE report," said Prof Santer, of UEA's Climatic Research Unit.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 2, 2026

Writing for the majority, Roberts said that Cook deserved a chance to challenge her removal and rebut Trump's accusations, which would have to be further substantiated.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

Batson established a three-part framework for racial juror challenges: Defense counsel challenges a strike, the prosecutor gives race-neutral reasons for it, then defense counsel has the opportunity to rebut those proffered reasons as pretextual.

From Slate ● May 28, 2026

Carolyn Rogers, the Bank of Canada‘s No. 2 official, may either rebut or buttress traders’ expectations for at least three interest-rate increases in 2026.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 24, 2026

Well informed and a very skilled debater, Beck made hash out of my fumbling avowal, and I lacked the wherewithal to rebut him.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

That rebuts Mr. Trump’s claim after Mr. Maduro’s capture six weeks ago that Ms. Machado lacks support in the country.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026

Evidence of enjoyment of life directly rebuts the central proposition of the oppressor – namely, that the oppressed is inferior.

From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2024

Monday's court filing from the city of Baltimore rebuts that number as "substantially less than the amount that will be claimed for losses and damages arising out of the Dali's allision with the Key Bridge".

From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2024

Ms. Willis also takes the stand and forcefully rebuts suggestions she benefited financially from the relationship.

From New York Times ● Mar. 15, 2024

“Good. Being a little bit thirsty will remind us why we need to ration,” he rebuts, his anger beginning to fill to the brim.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Hussain tried to rekindle the relationship but the woman rebutted his attempts on numerous occasions.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

Lawyers for Haitian and Syrian TPS holders rebutted, however, that federal courts have the power to review the determination process.

From Salon ● Apr. 30, 2026

At Wednesday’s press conference, Powell specifically rebutted accusations that stagflation was back, arguing that both inflation and unemployment were far lower than they were in the 1970s.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 18, 2026

Greenland, backed by Copenhagen, rebutted that it was not for sale and would decide its own future.

From Barron's ● Dec. 22, 2025

Still on the witness stand, Elizebeth rebutted that idea.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

He said social media platforms bore responsibility for not rebutting in time the content that encouraged last week's rush, warning it was "very likely" a similar event would happen "in any part of the world".

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

"Tears arise from the pain and sorrow that surges within a person, and the world sees this truth," declared Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, rebutting US President Donald Trump's claim that these were "fake tears".

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

After this, Cembalest turned his attention to rebutting a widely believed yet, according to him, incorrect idea pertaining to how the spike in energy prices caused by the war might redound on the U.S. economy.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 6, 2026

Daniela delivered a long response, rebutting him point by point.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 28, 2026

I had been listening and silently rebutting each sentence with my eyes closed; then there was a hush, which in an audience warns that something unplanned is happening.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

Related Words

• deny
• disprove
• fend off
• invalidate
• negate
• quash
• refute