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

"He was, in fact, following Saudi Arabia's instructions when assisting the hijackers," said Simpson, and that these were points that Saudi Arabia had "failed to rebut."

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Morton, however, says Charles was ill-advised to rebut the claims, as it simply further fanned the hype around the memoir.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Bond analysts used colorful language to rebut Warsh’s assertion.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

"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

These allegations embarrassed the government, and to combat them they brought in a string of outsiders meant to rebut these critical stories.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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

The gaming platform rebuts claims it would intentionally risk the safety of its users.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2025

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

“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

Luna rebutted the claim by highlighting the key role his department played in the multiagency law enforcement effort to keep people safe at the World Cup this year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

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

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

Mr. Modi also rebutted on X.com a CNBC-TV18 report that said the government was considering taxing foreign travel, a policy that could have accelerated investor flight from India.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 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

Requests from PIH staff to be paid for working extra hours “because other institutions did it” were rebutted by Farmer.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

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

“I think they need to do a better job rebutting the fireworks theory,” said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor now in private practice.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 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