refuse

refuse
I UK [rɪˈfjuːz] / US [rɪˈfjuz] verb
Word forms "refuse":
present tense I/you/we/they refuse he/she/it refuses present participle refusing past tense refused past participle refused
***
1) [intransitive/transitive] to say you will not do something that someone has asked you to do

Mum asked him to apologize, but he refused.

refuse to do something:

How could he refuse to help his own son?

flatly refuse (= refuse in a firm and sometimes impolite way):

Senior executives flatly refused to comment as they left the meeting.


Collocations:
Adverbs frequently used with refuse
▪  absolutely, adamantly, consistently, flatly, politely, resolutely, steadfastly, stubbornly
2) [intransitive/transitive] to say that you do not want what someone has offered to you

It seemed impolite to refuse when she invited me for dinner.

Alternative therapies are suggested for patients who refuse conventional medical treatment.

3) [transitive] to not give someone what they ask for, or to not let someone do what they ask to do

Some landowners refuse permission to use footpaths on their land.

refuse someone something:

Judge Mackey refused the defendant the right to appeal.


II UK [ˈrefjuːs] / US [ˈrefjus] noun [uncountable] formal
rubbish

household refuse

a refuse dump


English dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:

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  • refuse — vb *decline, reject, repudiate, spurn Analogous words: *deny, gainsay: balk, baffle, *frustrate, thwart, foil: debar, *exclude, shut out refuse n Refuse, waste, rubbish, trash, debris, garbage, offal can all mean matter that is regarded as… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Refuse — Re*fuse (r?*f?z ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Refused} ( f?zd ); p. pr. & vb. n. {Refusing}.] [F. refuser, either from (assumed) LL. refusare to refuse, v. freq. of L. refundere to pour back, give back, restore (see {Refund} to repay), or. fr. L.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • refuse — UK US /rɪˈfjuːz/ verb [I or T] ► to say that you will not do or accept something: refuse an offer/request/invitation »The government proposes to cut unemployment benefits to those who refuse job offers. refuse sb sth »The company was forced to… …   Financial and business terms

  • refuse — Ⅰ. refuse [1] ► VERB 1) state that one is unwilling to do something. 2) state that one is unwilling to grant or accept (something offered or requested). 3) (of a horse) decline to jump (a fence or other obstacle). DERIVATIVES refusal noun refuser …   English terms dictionary

  • Refuse — Re*fuse , v. i. To deny compliance; not to comply. [1913 Webster] Too proud to ask, too humble to refuse. Garth. [1913 Webster] If ye refuse . . . ye shall be devoured with the sword. Isa. i. 20. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • refuse — [n] garbage debris, dregs, dross, dump, dust, hogwash*, junk, leavings, litter, muck, offal, rejectamenta*, remains, residue, rubbish, scraps, scum*, sediment, slop*, sweepings, swill, trash, waste, waste matter; concept 260 Ant. assets,… …   New thesaurus

  • Refuse — Ref use (r?f ?s;277), n. [F. refus refusal, also, that which is refused. See {Refuse} to deny.] That which is refused or rejected as useless; waste or worthless matter. [1913 Webster] Syn: Dregs; sediment; scum; recrement; dross. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Refuse — Ref use, a. Refused; rejected; hence; left as unworthy of acceptance; of no value; worthless. [1913 Webster] Everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. 1. Sam. xv. 9. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • refuse — I verb abjure, abnegate, abstain, balk, bar, be obstinate, be unwilling, beg to be excused, cast aside, debar, decline, demur, deny, disaccord with, disallow, disapprove, disavow, disclaim, discountenance, discredit, dismiss, disown, dispense… …   Law dictionary

  • refusé — ● refusé, refusée nom Candidat non admis à un examen. ● refusé, refusée (synonymes) nom Candidat non admis à un examen. Synonymes : ajourné collé (familier) recalé (familier) Contraires …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • refuse — refuse1 [ri fyo͞oz′] vt. refused, refusing [ME refusen < OFr refuser < LL * refusare < L refusus, pp. of refundere: see REFUND1] 1. to decline to accept; reject 2. a) to decline to do, give, or grant …   English World dictionary

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