reject

[ verb ri-jekt; noun ree-jekt ]

/ verb rɪˈdʒɛkt; noun ˈri dʒɛkt /

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verb (used with object)

to refuse to have, take, recognize, etc.: to reject the offer of a better job.

to refuse to grant (a request, demand, etc.).

to refuse to accept (someone or something); rebuff: The other children rejected him. The publisher rejected the author's latest novel.

to discard as useless or unsatisfactory: The mind rejects painful memories.

to cast out or eject; vomit.

to cast out or off.

Medicine/Medical. (of a human or other animal) to have an immunological reaction against (a transplanted organ or grafted tissue): If tissue types are not matched properly, a patient undergoing a transplant will reject the graft.

noun

something rejected, as an imperfect article.

Nearby words

Origin of reject

1485–95; (v.) < Latin rējectus, past participle of rējicere to throw back, equivalent to re- re- + jec-, combining form of jacere to throw + -tus past participle suffix

SYNONYMS FOR reject

1 See refuse¹.

1, 2 deny.

3 repel, renounce.

4 eliminate, jettison.

8 second.

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Related forms

re·ject·a·ble, adjectivere·ject·er, nounre·jec·tive, adjectivepre·re·ject, verb (used with object)

qua·si-re·ject·ed, adjectiveun·re·ject·a·ble, adjectiveun·re·ject·ed, adjectiveun·re·jec·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for reject

As Assaf put it, “this is one way to reject extremism and make it so the people are not afraid.”
Middle East Goes Monty Python on ISIS|Dean Obeidallah|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And I was wondering how you combat that impulse to reject the young?
Martin Amis Talks About Nazis, Novels, and Cute Babies|Ronald K. Fried|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His Mormon faith was no reason to reject his candidacy, he argued.
It’s Official: Religion Doesn’t Make You More Moral|Elizabeth Picciuto|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I reject angrily authority that exists without my respect.
Brecht's Mercenary Mother Courage Turns 75|Katie Baker|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The problem for concerned people was not merely to do the obvious thing and reject apartheid, but to decide what to do about it.
Don’t Accuse Israel of Apartheid|Benjamin Pogrund|July 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Apologists like Lekebusch and Oertel reject Bleek's argument.
Supernatural Religion, Vol. III. (of III)|Walter Richard Cassels
It comes to them as the gifts of gods and sages, which it would be sacrilege to reject.
Life and Work in Benares and Kumaon, 1839-1877|James Kennedy
Impostors alone can pronounce it necessary to discredit experience and reject reason.
Christianity Unveiled|Nicolas-Antoine Boulanger
I reject the concrete example, but accept the universal doctrine on which the special dogma of the Trinity is erected.
Speeches, Addresses, and Occasional Sermons, Volume 2 (of 3)|Theodore Parker
It might amend money bills, might reject all legislation, and stop the machinery of government.
George Brown|John Lewis

British Dictionary definitions for reject

reject

verb (rɪˈdʒɛkt) (tr)

to refuse to accept, acknowledge, use, believe, etc

to throw out as useless or worthless; discard

to rebuff (a person)

(of an organism) to fail to accept (a foreign tissue graft or organ transplant) because of immunological incompatibility

noun (ˈriːdʒɛkt)

something rejected as imperfect, unsatisfactory, or useless

Derived Formsrejectable, adjectiverejecter or rejector, nounrejection, nounrejective, adjective

Word Origin for reject

C15: from Latin rēicere to throw back, from re- + jacere to hurl

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for reject (1 of 2)

reject

early 15c., from Old French rejecter and directly from Latin reiectus, past participle of reiectare "throw away, cast away, vomit," frequentative of reicere "to throw back," from re- "back" (see re-) + -icere, comb. form of iacere "to throw" (see jet (v.)). Related: Rejected; rejecting.

Word Origin and History for reject (1 of 2)

reject

1550s, "a castaway" (rare), from reject (v.). Modern use probably a re-formation of the same word: "thing cast aside as unsatisfactory" (1893); "person considered low-quality and worthless" (1925, from use in militaries).

Medicine definitions for reject

reject

[ rĭ-jĕkt′ ]

v.

To refuse to accept, submit to, believe, or use something.

To discard as defective or useless; throw away.

To spit out or vomit.

To resist immunologically introduction of a transplanted organ or tissue; fail to accept in one's body.

reject

verb (used with object)

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of reject

Examples from the Web for reject

British Dictionary definitions for reject

reject

verb (rɪˈdʒɛkt) (tr)

noun (ˈriːdʒɛkt)

Word Origin for reject

Word Origin and History for reject (1 of 2)

reject

Word Origin and History for reject (1 of 2)

reject

Medicine definitions for reject

reject

v.