refuse

Pronunciation

verb

• enPR: rĭfyo͞oz'
• IPA: /ɹɪˈfjuːz/
• SAMPA: /rI"fju:z/
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•  Audio (UK)^{help, file}

noun

• enPR: rĕ'fyo͞os
• IPA: /ˈɹɛfjuːs/
• SAMPA: /"rEfju:s/

Verb

Plain form refuse

Third-person singular refuses

Past tense refused

Past participle refused

Present participle refusing

1. (transitive) If you refuse a request or demand, you decline or reject it.

   I refuse to take the offer for this house.

2. (intransitive) If you refuse a request or demand, you do not give your permission for it; you withhold it.

   My request for a pay raise was refused.

Synonyms

• decline
• reject

Antonyms

• accept
• grant

Usage notes

• This is a catenative verb, which means that it can be followed with another verb with a to in between the two verbs:

I refuse to take the offer for this house.

Noun

Singular refuse

Plural none

1. (uncountable) Refuse is stuff that people don't need and throw away.

Synonyms

• garbage
• trash
• rubbish
• junk