refuse
REHF-yoos
Refuse (verb) means to say no to a request, offer, or order. Example: “She refused to sign the contract until the terms were changed.”
verb
1
To say no to a request, offer, or order.
"She refused to sign the contract until the terms were changed."
"He refused their help, insisting he could manage alone."
"The shop assistant refused to give me a refund without a receipt."
noun
1
Waste material; rubbish or garbage.
"The city collects refuse twice a week."
"Please put all household refuse in the black bins outside."
"Piles of refuse had built up in the alley during the strike."
How to use refuse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs a verb, turning something down; as a noun (stressed differently, REF-use), it means trash or rubbish.
Common mistake
The verb is pronounced re-FUSE; the noun meaning "rubbish" is pronounced REF-use — same spelling, different stress and meaning.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
refuse to comply
refuse collection
household refuse
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- refuses
- Past tense
- refused
- Comparative
- more refuse
- Superlative
- most refuse
- Archaic forms
- refusest, refusedst, refuseth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ to sign the contract until the terms were changed.
Etymology
Borrowed into Middle English from Middle French refuser, "to refuse."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for refuse
See all rhymes for refuse →Frequently asked questions
What does “refuse” mean?
The word “refuse” means to say no to a request, offer, or order. In plain terms, as a verb, turning something down; as a noun (stressed differently, REF-use), it means trash or rubbish.
How do you pronounce “refuse”?
“Refuse” is pronounced REHF-yoos (/ˈɹɛfjuːs/ in IPA).
How do you use “refuse” in a sentence?
Here is “refuse” used in a sentence: “She refused to sign the contract until the terms were changed.”
What part of speech is “refuse”?
Depending on how it is used, “refuse” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “refuse” come from?
The word “refuse” comes from Middle French. Borrowed into Middle English from Middle French refuser, "to refuse.".
Is “refuse” a common word?
“Refuse” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “refuse” have?
“Refuse” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to say no to a request, offer, or order.
What is the difference between refuse and decline?
Both verbs mean to say no to a request, offer, or order, but decline is softer and more polite, as in declining an invitation. Refuse is firmer and more absolute, and it is the natural choice for orders or demands, as in "He refused to leave." Use decline for courteous rejections and refuse for emphatic ones.
Why does refuse have two pronunciations?
Refuse is a heteronym: one spelling covering two different words. The verb, meaning to say no, is stressed on the second syllable (re-FUSE), while the noun, meaning waste material or rubbish, is stressed on the first (REF-use). The stress shift signals which word is intended.
What is the difference between refuse and reject?
To refuse is to say no to a request, offer, or order, and it often takes an infinitive, as in "She refused to sign." To reject is to dismiss something or someone as unacceptable or not good enough, as in rejecting a proposal or an application. Refuse focuses on the act of saying no; reject focuses on judging something unworthy.
Do you say "refuse to do" or "refuse doing"?
Refuse is followed by the to-infinitive, never the -ing form. Correct English is "He refused to answer," not "He refused answering." This makes refuse different from verbs like avoid or deny, which take the -ing form instead.
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