refuse

Pronunciation

Verb

• enPR: rĭfyo͞oz'
• IPA ^(key): /rɪˈfjuːz/
• SAMPA: /rI"fju:z/

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Noun

• enPR: rĕ'fyo͞os
• IPA ^(key): /ˈrɛfjuːs/
• 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.
   • Synonyms: decline and reject
   • Antonyms: accept and grant

   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.
   • Synonyms: decline and reject
   • Antonyms: accept and grant

   My request for a pay raise was refused.

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 and junk