refuse
1
[ ri-fyooz ]
/ rɪˈfyuz /
verb (used with object), re·fused, re·fus·ing.
verb (used without object), re·fused, re·fus·ing.
to decline acceptance, consent, or compliance.
Origin of refuse
1
1300–50; Middle English
refusen < Middle French
refuser, Old French ≪ Latin
refūsus, past participle of
refundere to pour back; see
refund1
SYNONYMS FOR refuse
1
rebuff.
Refuse,
decline,
reject,
spurn all imply nonacceptance of something. To
decline is milder and more courteous than to
refuse, which is direct and often emphatic in expressing determination not to accept what is offered or proposed:
to refuse a bribe; to decline an invitation. To
reject is even more positive and definite than
refuse :
to reject a suitor. To
spurn is to reject with scorn:
to spurn a bribe.
OTHER WORDS FROM refuse
Words nearby refuse
refund,
refund annuity,
refurb,
refurbish,
refusal,
refuse,
refusenik,
refusion,
refutation,
refutative,
refute
Example sentences from the Web for refusing
British Dictionary definitions for refusing (1 of 2)
refuse
1
/ (rɪˈfjuːz) /
verb
(tr)
to decline to accept (something offered)
to refuse a present; to refuse promotion
to decline to give or grant (something) to (a person, organization, etc)
(when tr, takes an infinitive)
to express determination not (to do something); decline
he refuses to talk about it
(of a horse) to be unwilling to take (a jump), as by swerving or stopping
(tr)
(of a woman) to declare one's unwillingness to accept (a suitor) as a husband
Derived forms of refuse
refusable, adjective refuser, nounWord Origin for refuse
C14: from Old French
refuser, from Latin
refundere to pour back; see
refund
British Dictionary definitions for refusing (2 of 2)
refuse
2
/ (ˈrɛfjuːs) /
noun
- anything thrown away; waste; rubbish
- (as modifier)a refuse collection
Word Origin for refuse
C15: from Old French
refuser to
refuse
1