deny
B2Neutral to Formal (common in legal, administrative, and serious contexts)
Definition
Meaning
To state that something is not true, or to refuse to admit the existence or truth of something.
To refuse to grant, allow, or give something requested or desired; to disavow connection with or responsibility for someone or something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies a conscious, often official, rejection of a claim, request, or connection. It can carry legal and moral weight. The structure 'deny [someone] [something]' is highly productive (e.g., 'deny them access').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The core meaning and usage are identical. Minor differences may arise in legal phrasing and collocational preferences in media.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties: often implies authority, finality, and can suggest a negative or defensive stance.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties across formal, journalistic, and legal registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + direct object (deny the accusation)[verb] + that-clause (deny that he was there)[verb] + indirect object + direct object (deny him a visa)[verb] + gerund (deny taking the money)[verb] + reflexive pronoun (deny herself nothing)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “deny oneself (to go without)”
- “there's no denying (it is clearly true)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board denied the merger proposal due to antitrust concerns.
Academic
The hypothesis was denied by the subsequent experimental data.
Everyday
He denied eating the last biscuit, but the crumbs gave him away.
Technical
The firewall rule denies all inbound traffic from that IP range.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The minister will deny any knowledge of the meeting.
- The club reserves the right to deny entry.
- She couldn't deny herself the pleasure of a cup of tea.
American English
- The spokesperson denied the allegations outright.
- The judge denied the motion for a retrial.
- He denies himself nothing when it comes to tech gadgets.
adverb
British English
- He spoke denyingly, but his eyes told a different story. (Rare/Non-standard)
- Not a standard adverb form.
American English
- She shook her head denyingly. (Rare/Non-standard)
- Not a standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- The denying party must provide evidence.
- No applicable examples of a standalone adjective 'denying'.
American English
- Her denying attitude made the negotiation difficult.
- No applicable examples of a standalone adjective 'denying'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I did not take your pen! I deny it!
- The teacher will deny your request if you ask rudely.
- The company denies that its product is unsafe.
- He was denied a bank loan because of his poor credit history.
- Despite the evidence, the accused continues to deny any involvement in the fraud.
- The government's decision denies basic rights to a significant portion of the population.
- The philosopher's thesis seeks to deny the very possibility of objective moral truth.
- The treaty clause effectively denies signatories the right to pursue independent nuclear research.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'DEN' where you hide; to DENY is to hide the truth or refuse entry to your 'den' of resources.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUTH/ACCESS IS AN OBJECT BEING WITHHELD. (e.g., 'She was denied the truth.' 'They denied him entry.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'ignore' (игнорировать). 'Deny' is an active verbal rejection, not passive disregard.
- Do not use 'deny' for simple disagreement. It's stronger, akin to 'отрицать' or 'отказывать'.
- The structure 'deny + gerund' (He denied stealing) is correct; do not use infinitive (*deny to steal).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *He denied to have seen her. Correct: He denied having seen her / He denied that he had seen her.
- Incorrect: *She denied the offer. (Use 'rejected' or 'declined' for offers). Correct: She denied the accusation.
- Incorrect preposition: *He denied from the crime. Correct: He denied the crime / involvement in the crime.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'deny' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Deny' typically means to state something is not true or to withhold something that is requested. 'Refuse' means to indicate unwillingness to do something or to reject an offer. You 'deny' an accusation or a request for access; you 'refuse' an invitation or to answer a question.
No, 'deny' is not followed by an infinitive. Use a gerund or a 'that'-clause. Incorrect: *He denied to do it. Correct: He denied doing it. / He denied that he did it.
Yes, it's a fixed phrase meaning 'to go without something desirable, often for moral or practical reasons.' Example: 'She denied herself sweets to stay healthy.'
It is primarily a dynamic verb (an action performed), as it involves the act of declaring or refusing. However, in some contexts (e.g., 'The law denies them citizenship'), it describes a state of being prohibited.
Collections
Part of a collection
Media and Communication
B1 · 50 words · Language for discussing media and communication.