refuse1
verb/rɪˈfjuːz/
/rɪˈfjuːz/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they refuse | /rɪˈfjuːz/ /rɪˈfjuːz/ |
| he / she / it refuses | /rɪˈfjuːzɪz/ /rɪˈfjuːzɪz/ |
| past simple refused | /rɪˈfjuːzd/ /rɪˈfjuːzd/ |
| past participle refused | /rɪˈfjuːzd/ /rɪˈfjuːzd/ |
| -ing form refusing | /rɪˈfjuːzɪŋ/ /rɪˈfjuːzɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to say or show that you will not do something that somebody has asked you to do
- Go on, ask her; she can hardly refuse.
- refuse to do something He flatly refused to discuss the matter.
- She refused to accept that there was a problem.
- My brother refused to allow anyone to help him.
- She refused to comment further.
- He has steadfastly refused to answer my questions.
- They simply refuse to give up.
- refuse something The demand for an apology was pointedly refused.
More Like This Verbs usually followed by infinitivesVerbs usually followed by infinitivesExtra Examples- Gerard refused point-blank to cooperate.
- He didn't dare to refuse.
- The Court has repeatedly refused to bend on this point.
- Workers should be entitled to refuse to work under these conditions.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- absolutely
- utterly
- adamantly
- …
- cannot
- can hardly
- be entitled to
- …
Definitions on the go
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- [transitive, intransitive] refuse (something) to say that you do not want something that has been offered to you synonym turn somebody/something down
- I politely refused their invitation.
- The job offer was simply too good to refuse.
- I must refuse your generous offer.
- She offered them cups of tea and it seemed churlish to refuse.
Extra Examples- We invited her to the wedding but she refused.
- They made me an offer I couldn't refuse.
- Two patients refused treatment.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- absolutely
- utterly
- adamantly
- …
- cannot
- can hardly
- be entitled to
- …
- [transitive] to say that you will not allow something; to say that you will not give or allow somebody something that they want or need synonym deny
- refuse something He refused our request for an interview.
- The bank refused his demand for a full refund.
- The authorities refused permission for the new housing development.
- The judge refused her application for bail.
- The government has refused all demands for a public inquiry.
- refuse somebody something They refused him a visa.
- The judge refused them permission to appeal.
- She would never refuse her kids anything.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- absolutely
- utterly
- adamantly
- …
- cannot
- can hardly
- be entitled to
- …
- [transitive] (of a thing) to fail to do what you want or expect it to do
- The car refused to start.
- The problem simply refuses to go away.
- My ear infection is refusing to heal.
Extra Examples- Once told, these stories refuse to disappear.
- The stain refused to budge.
- My legs just refused to work.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French refuser, probably an alteration of Latin recusare ‘to refuse’, influenced by refutare ‘refute’.
More Like This Pronunciation changes by part of speechPronunciation changes by part of speech
See refuse in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee refuse in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic EnglishCheck pronunciation:
refuse1