refuse¹ Definition
re·fuse (ri fyo̵̅o̅z′)
transitive verb -·fused′, -·fus′·ing
- to decline to accept; reject
- to decline to do, give, or grant
- to decline: with an infinitive object to refuse to go
- to decline to accept or submit to (a command, etc.); decline to undergo
- to decline to grant the request of (a person)
- to stop short at (a fence, etc.), without jumping it: said of a horse
- Obsolete to renounce
Etymology: ME refusen < OFr refuser < LL *refusare < L refusus, pp. of refundere: see refund
intransitive verb
to decline to accept, agree to, or do something
refuse¹ Related Forms
refuse² Definition
ref·use (ref′yo̵̅o̅s, -yo̵̅o̅z)
noun
anything thrown away or rejected as worthless or useless; waste; trash; rubbish
Etymology: ME < OFr refus, pp. of refuser: see refuse
adjective
thrown away or rejected as worthless or useless
refuse Synonyms
refuse Synonyms
refuse
v.
refuse is a direct, sometimes even blunt term, implying an emphatic denial of a request, demand, etc. to refuse a person money, to refuse permission; decline implies courtesy in expressing one's nonacceptance of an invitation, proposal, etc. he declined the nomination; reject stresses a negative or antagonistic attitude and implies positive refusal to accept, use, believe, etc. they rejected the damaged goods; repudiate implies the disowning, disavowal, or casting off with condemnation of a person or thing as having no authority, worth, validity, truth, etc. to repudiate the claims of faith healers; to spurn is to refuse or reject with contempt or disdain she spurned his attentions
refuse Usage Examples
Object
- permission: In Paris, however, being a British subject, he was refused permission to be sent to the French front.
- admission: We reserve the right to refuse admission to the Museum at any time.
- cookie: You can set your web browser to refuse cookies.
- entry: Without the necessary stamp in your passport, you may be refused entry.
- request: We reserve the right to refuse a request for a listing without giving a reason.
- asylum: He has been in England for 4 months and has already been refused asylum and is in the process of appeal.
Preposition: on
ground: It was because Mr Q's license had been refused on medical grounds that he felt unable to overturn the decision.
Adjective modifier
domestic: What happens if I put my domestic refuse in the wrong container?
Modifies a noun
- sack: Only terraced houses with no front garden or rear access are allowed to use refuse sacks.
- collector: The wheeled bins prevent serious injury for refuse collectors.
- bin: Does it matter if I cannot shut the lid on my refuse bin?
- collection: Click here for the full article... Household refuse collection S ome notes.
- lorry: It is true that parked cars do cause problems for the refuse lorries and collectors.
Noun used with modifier
household: Dispose of used packaging and remaining product in the household refuse.
Infinitive complement
- accept: He refused to accept a police caution in relation to the offenses.
- let: Your employer can refuse to let you take holiday.
- comply: If the employer refuses to comply, the employe is deemed to be employed until the full hearing.
- acknowledge: God may also be angry with people who refuse to acknowledge all He has given them.
- admit: Yet the tobacco lobby still refuses to admit the problem even exists.
- co-operate: West Mercia Police have refused to co-operate with this demand.
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