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refuse

re·fuse
R r

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [ri-fyooz]
    • /rɪˈfyuz/
    • /rɪˈfjuːz/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [ri-fyooz]
    • /rɪˈfyuz/

Definitions of refuse word

  • verb with object refuse to decline to accept (something offered): to refuse an award. 1
  • verb with object refuse to decline to give; deny (a request, demand, etc.): to refuse permission. 1
  • verb with object refuse to express a determination not to (do something): to refuse to discuss the question. 1
  • verb with object refuse to decline to submit to. 1
  • verb with object refuse (of a horse) to decline to leap over (a barrier). 1
  • verb with object refuse to decline to accept (a suitor) in marriage. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of refuse

First appearance:

before 1300
One of the 15% oldest English words
1300-50; Middle English refusen < Middle French refuser, Old French ≪ Latin refūsus, past participle of refundere to pour back; see refund1

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Refuse

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

refuse popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 96% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

refuse usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for refuse

verb refuse

  • abstain — If you abstain from something, usually something you want to do, you deliberately do not do it.
  • balk — If you balk at something, you definitely do not want to do it or to let it happen.
  • bar — A bar is a place where you can buy and drink alcoholic drinks.
  • be-little — to regard or portray as less impressive or important than appearances indicate; depreciate; disparage.
  • beat back — to force to retreat; drive back

noun refuse

  • bs — BS is an abbreviation for 'British Standard', which is a standard that something sold in Britain must reach in a test to prove that it is satisfactory or safe. Each standard has a number for reference.
  • bss — British Standards Specification
  • byproduct — A byproduct is something that is produced during the manufacture or processing of another product.
  • carry over — If something carries over or is carried over from one situation to another, it continues to exist or apply in the new situation.
  • carry-over — that which is carried over, postponed, or extended to a later time, account, etc.

Antonyms for refuse

verb refuse

  • abalienate — (civil law, transitive) To transfer the title of from one to another; to alienate.
  • abet — If one person abets another, they help or encourage them to do something criminal or wrong. Abet is often used in the legal expression 'aid and abet'.
  • abide — to tolerate; put up with
  • accede — If you accede to someone's request, you do what they ask.
  • accept — If you accept something that you have been offered, you say yes to it or agree to take it.

Top questions with refuse

  • when women refuse?
  • what motivates jing mei to refuse to take piano lessons?
  • what happens if you refuse the rfid chip?
  • why do jehovah witnesses refuse blood transfusions?
  • how to refuse a drug test?
  • why do jehovah's witnesses refuse blood?
  • what happens if you refuse a polygraph test?
  • why does romeo refuse to fight tybalt?
  • in the earliest cities where did citizens dispose of refuse?
  • what is refuse?
  • how to refuse a job offer?
  • why did coolidge refuse aid to the mississippi flood victims?
  • why does danforth refuse to postpone the hangings?
  • what does refuse mean?
  • how to refuse an offer politely?

See also

Matching words

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