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 infinitives- afford
- agree
- appear
- arrange
- attempt
- beg
- choose
- consent
- decide
- expect
- fail
- happen
- hesitate
- hope
- intend
- learn
- manage
- mean
- neglect
- offer
- prepare
- pretend
- promise
- refuse
- swear
- try
- want
- wish
Extra 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
- …
- [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.
More Like This Verbs with two objectsVerbs with two objects- bet
- bring
- build
- buy
- cost
- get
- give
- leave
- lend
- make
- offer
- owe
- pass
- pay
- play
- post
- promise
- read
- refuse
- sell
- send
- show
- sing
- take
- teach
- tell
- throw
- wish
- write
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
- abuse
- alternate
- advocate
- approximate
- contract
- converse
- convict
- decrease
- delegate
- discount
- duplicate
- estimate
- export
- extract
- graduate
- import
- intimate
- moderate
- object
- permit
- present
- protest
- record
- refund
- refuse
- subject
- suspect
- survey
- torment
- upgrade