refuse

¹

[ri-fyooz]

verb (used with object)

refused, refusing 

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)

refused, refusing 

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

/ 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

refuse

²

/ ˈrɛfjuːs /

noun

1. 1. anything thrown away; waste; rubbish

   2. ( as modifier )

      a refuse collection

Other Word Forms

• refusable adjective
• refuser noun
• quasi-refused adjective
• unrefusable adjective
• unrefused adjective
• unrefusing 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

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

Origin of refuse²

C15: from Old French refuser to _refuse ¹

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

“Remained in bed entire day. Still refuses to talk to anyone.”

Read more on Salon

One anecdote from the report claims that when Patel traveled to Utah following the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, he “refused” to leave his plane without wearing an FBI raid jacket.

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Other countries that refused to join it include China, Russia, North Korea, Libya and Saudi Arabia.

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The chancellor repeatedly refused to rule this out, as she pointed to forecasts for economic productivity being weaker than expected.

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Monday's bin collections have been called off as agency workers joined refuse strikers on picket lines in Birmingham amid a separate dispute.

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Related Words

• decline 
• ignore 
• protest 
• rebuff 
• reject 
• turn down 
• withdraw 
• withhold