refuse

refuse
1 /rI'fju:z/ verb
1 (I) to say or show that you will not do something that someone has asked you to do: I'm sure if you ask her to help you, she won't refuse. | refuse to do sth: I refuse to take part in anything that's illegal. | flatly refuse/refuse point blank (=refuse very firmly and directly): Mother flatly refused to go back into the hospital.
2 (I, T) to say no to something that you have been offered; decline 2 (4): Mrs Sutton refused a second piece of cake. | Their offer is too good to refuse.
3 (T) to not give or allow someone something that they want: refuse sb sth: The US authorities refused him a visa.
USAGE NOTE: REFUSE WORD CHOICE: agree to, accept, refuse, reject, decline, turn down, deny Refuse, reject, decline, turn down all mean that you do not do something that someone has asked you to do (opposite: agree to), or do not take something that you are offered (opposite: accept). You can refuse an invitation, application, offer, permission, or you can refuse to say or do something: She refused to come with us. More strongly, you reject an application, idea, proposal, offer, improvement, or plan: The Greens rejected the proposals for the new road. | Her first novel was rejected by over 30 publishers. You decline an invitation, offer, or to give permission by saying or writing something rather than doing something. This word is less strong but more formal and polite: The Senator has declined all our invitations to an open debate on the matter. Less formally, you can turn down an invitation, application, suggestion, offer, or plan: He turns down all offers of help. You can also deny someone permission, an opportunity, or their rights. But usually if you deny something especially something wrong that someone has said you have done, you say it is not true: The sentence She denied working for the enemy, means She said she was not working for the enemy (NOT She refused to work for the enemy). 2 noun (U) formal waste material; rubbish 1 (1): a refuse dump | declining standards in housing maintenance, refuse collection and street lighting

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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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