refuse
B1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
To say that you will not do or accept something
To decline, reject, or withhold permission; also (as noun) waste or rubbish
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb often implies a deliberate, sometimes firm or abrupt denial. The noun refers to discarded matter.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The noun 'refuse' (meaning rubbish) is more common in formal/legal contexts in AmE, whereas BrE uses it more broadly. AmE strongly prefers 'garbage' or 'trash' for everyday waste.
Connotations
The verb can sound slightly more formal or blunt than 'say no' or 'decline'.
Frequency
The verb is frequent in both varieties. The noun is less common in everyday AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
refuse + noun (refuse an offer)refuse + to-infinitive (refuse to go)refuse + somebody + noun (refuse him entry)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “refuse to take no for an answer”
- “give someone the refuse (archaic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board may refuse the merger proposal.
Academic
The study had to refuse participants who did not meet the criteria.
Everyday
I had to refuse the second piece of cake.
Technical
The server can refuse connections from untrusted IP addresses.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council refused planning permission for the new flats.
- He flatly refused to apologise.
American English
- The company refused his visa application.
- She refused to answer any more questions.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The child refused to eat his vegetables.
- Please don't refuse my help.
- They refused our request for a discount.
- The law refuses entry to anyone without a visa.
- The judge refused to admit the evidence, citing procedural errors.
- Despite the pressure, she refused to compromise her principles.
- The authorities are within their rights to refuse asylum to those not facing genuine persecution.
- The enzyme will refuse to bind to the substrate if the pH is incorrect.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: REject + reFUSE = refuse. You fuse (join) the 're-' of rejection to 'fuse' to remember it's a denial.
Conceptual Metaphor
REFUSAL IS A PHYSICAL BARRIER (e.g., 'He refused me entry').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'отказываться' (which is correct) and 'мусор' (for the noun). Avoid literal translations of structures like 'refuse from' – it's simply 'refuse + object'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He refused that he was guilty.' Correct: 'He refused to admit he was guilty.'
- Incorrect: 'She refused from the offer.' Correct: 'She refused the offer.'
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'refuse' correctly as a NOUN?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a verb, it is neutral but can sound formal or firm. In everyday speech, people often use 'say no' or 'turn down'. The noun is formal/technical.
'Refuse' often implies a direct 'no' to a request or action. 'Reject' is stronger, implying complete dismissal (e.g., a proposal). 'Decline' is more polite and formal.
It's a case of stress-derived noun/verb distinction. Verb: stress on second syllable (/rɪˈfjuːz/). Noun: stress on first syllable (/ˈrɛfjuːs/). Similar to 'record', 'permit'.
No, it cannot. Use 'refuse + to-infinitive' (He refused to leave) or 'refuse + noun' (He refused the money).