Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense refuses, present participle refusing, past tense, past participle refusedpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (rɪfjuːz). The noun is pronounced (refjuːs) and is hyphenated ref+use.
1. verb
If you refuseto do something, you deliberately do not do it, or you say firmly that you will not do it.
He refused to comment after the trial. [VERB to-infinitive]
He expects me to stay on here and I can hardly refuse. [VERB]
2. verb
If someone refuses you something, they do not give it to you or do not allow you to have it.
The United States has refused him a visa. [VERB noun noun]
She was refused access to her children. [VERB noun noun]
The town council had refused permission for the march. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: deny, decline, withhold, not grant More Synonyms of refuse
3. verb
If you refuse something that is offered to you, you do not accept it.
He offered me a second drink which I refused. [VERB noun]
The patient has the right to refuse treatment. [VERB noun]
4. uncountable noun
Refuse consists of the rubbish and all the things that are not wanted in a house, shop, or factory, and that are regularly thrown away; used mainly in official language.
The District Council made a weekly collection of refuse.
Synonyms: rubbish, waste, sweepings, junk [informal] More Synonyms of refuse
More Synonyms of refuse
refuse in British English1
(rɪˈfjuːz)
verb
1. (transitive)
to decline to accept (something offered)
to refuse a present
to refuse promotion
2.
to decline to give or grant (something) to (a person, organization, etc)
3. (when tr, takes an infinitive)
to express determination not (to do something); decline
I refuse to talk about it
4.
(of a horse) to be unwilling to take (a jump), as by swerving or stopping
5. (transitive)
(of a woman) to declare one's unwillingness to accept (a suitor) as a husband
Derived forms
refusable (reˈfusable)
adjective
refuser (reˈfuser)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French refuser, from Latin refundere to pour back; see refund
refuse in British English2
(ˈrɛfjuːs)
noun
a.
anything thrown away; waste; rubbish
b.
(as modifier)
a refuse collection
Word origin
C15: from Old French refuser to refuse1
refuse in American English1
(rɪˈfjuz)
verb transitiveWord forms: reˈfused or reˈfusing
1.
to decline to accept; reject
2.
a.
to decline to do, give, or grant
b.
to decline
with an infinitive object
to refuse to go
3.
a.
to decline to accept or submit to (a command, etc.); decline to undergo
b.
to decline to grant the request of (a person)
4.
to stop short at (a fence, etc.), without jumping it
said of a horse
5. Obsolete
to renounce
verb intransitive
6.
to decline to accept, agree to, or do something
SIMILAR WORDS: deˈcline
Derived forms
refuser (reˈfuser)
noun
Word origin
ME refusen < OFr refuser < LL *refusare < L refusus, pp. of refundere: see refund1
refuse in American English2
(ˈrɛfjus; ˈrɛfjuz)
noun
1.
anything thrown away or rejected as worthless or useless; waste; trash; rubbish
adjective
2.
thrown away or rejected as worthless or useless
Word origin
ME < OFr refus, pp. of refuser: see refuse1
Examples of 'refuse' in a sentence
refuse
The single mum refused to comment last night.
The Sun (2017)
You refused to accept this and asked the adjudicator to seek and consider further evidence.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Those whose countries refuse to take them back may also be detained without trial.
The Sun (2017)
Refusing to allow the others to draw you back into their dramas.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The government has refused to give any details about the test or say why it failed.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It suggested that our bank was refusing to accept the money.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
One garage had to refuse to take back any more.
The Sun (2016)
He said:'There is very little refuse collection and recycling in many areas and rubbish just ends up getting washed into the river.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Last night the surgery refused to comment.
The Sun (2010)
The council refused his application for housing as a homeless person.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What do politicians think will happen when they refuse to give a straight answer?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Tax officials last night refused to comment on their inquiry.
The Sun (2009)
But refusing to accept discrimination is always the right thing to do.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Six thousand companies were refused access to the scheme because they did not fit the criteria.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
New powers to charge for domestic refuse collection are also mooted.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The board refused to allow such a vote to go forward.
Christianity Today (2000)
So the younger brother could just tough it out and refuse to take second place.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
His spokesman last night refused to comment.
The Sun (2010)
Some head teachers accused the city council of refusing to listen to their complaints.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The pair refused to give oral evidence.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She pulled out of the race after officials refused her request to wear a different number.
The Sun (2013)
She has tried to see him in prison but was refused access.
The Sun (2016)
But it also shows that one in five councils is cutting refuse collection and cleaning.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Should we refuse to take on tactical ideas fostered in countries other than our own?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He refused to comment as he left the court.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Newham council refused to say what it was paid.
The Sun (2012)
Council chiefs are refusing to allow a permanent memorial to Lee.
The Sun (2015)
Stories abound in the City about managers who refuse to waste a moment in their pursuit of success.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Council carers have refused to look after her because she hurls torrents of abuse at them and has hit them with her walking stick.
The Sun (2009)
I chose not to be here because I refuse to waste another second in your presence.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
refuse
British English: refuse /ˈrɛfjuːs/ NOUN
Refuse consists of the rubbish and unwanted things in a house, shop, or factory that are regularly thrown away.
The authorities made a weekly collection of refuse.
American English: refuse
Arabic: حُثَالَة
Brazilian Portuguese: lixo
Chinese: 废物
Croatian: otpad
Czech: odpadky
Danish: affald
Dutch: afval
European Spanish: rechazo
Finnish: jäte
French: ordures
German: Abfall
Greek: απορρίμματα
Italian: rifiuto
Japanese: ごみ
Korean: 쓰레기
Norwegian: avfall
Polish: odpady
European Portuguese: lixo
Romanian: deșeu
Russian: отходы
Latin American Spanish: rechazo
Swedish: sopor
Thai: ขยะ
Turkish: reddetme
Ukrainian: сміття
Vietnamese: rác
British English: refuse /rɪˈfjuːz/ VERB
If you refuse to do something, you deliberately do not do it, or say firmly that you will not do it.
He refused to talk to the newspapers after the trial.
He expects me to stay here and I really can't refuse.
American English: refuse
Arabic: يَرْفُضُ
Brazilian Portuguese: recusar
Chinese: 拒绝
Croatian: odbiti
Czech: odmítnout
Danish: afslå
Dutch: weigeren
European Spanish: rechazar rehusar
Finnish: kieltäytyä
French: refuser
German: ablehnen
Greek: αρνούμαι
Italian: rifiutare
Japanese: 拒否する
Korean: 거절하다
Norwegian: nekte
Polish: odmówić
European Portuguese: recusar
Romanian: a refuza
Russian: отказывать
Latin American Spanish: rechazar
Swedish: vägra
Thai: ปฏิเสธ
Turkish: reddetmek
Ukrainian: відмовляти
Vietnamese: từ chối
All related terms of 'refuse'
refuse bin
a bin for the disposal of rubbish and waste
refuse dump
to drop , fall, or let fall heavily or in a mass
refuse chute
a chute in a building which rubbish and waste is thrown down to the main refuse bins , etc
refuse lorry
a lorry used to collect and dispose of rubbish and waste from homes, etc
refuse truck
a road vehicle for collecting domestic refuse
refuse disposal
the act of disposing of rubbish and waste
refuse a card
If you refuse a card , you do not allow someone's credit card to be used to pay a bill .
refuse collection
the collection of rubbish and waste , usually in a rubbish or refuse truck , before final disposal
refuse collector
A refuse collector is a person whose job is to take people's garbage away.
refuse destructor
someone responsible for or something that destructs or destroys rubbish and waste
refuse treatment
Treatment is medical attention given to a sick or injured person or animal.
refuse a proposal
If an insurer refuses a proposal , it does not agree to underwrite a risk proposed by a potential client .
refuse a request
If you make a request , you politely or formally ask someone to do something.
refuse an interview
An interview is a conversation in which a journalist puts questions to someone such as a famous person or politician.
refuse disposal unit
a unit or part of a sink that disposes of waste food, etc, by grinding
refuse disposal service
a place or facility where rubbish and waste can be disposed
miss stays
(of a sailing vessel) to fail to come about
Chinese translation of 'refuse'
refuse 1
(rɪˈfjuːz)
vt, vi
拒绝(絕) (jùjué)
to refuse to do sth拒绝(絕)做某事 (jùjué zuò mǒushì)
to refuse sb sth拒绝(絕)给(給)某人某物 (jùjué gěi mǒurén mǒuwù)
to refuse sb permission不批准某人 (bù pīzhǔn mǒurén)
refuse 2
(ˈrɛfjuːs)
n(u)
垃圾 (lājī)
All related terms of 'refuse'
refuse collection
垃圾收集 lājī shōují
to refuse sb sth
拒绝(絕)给(給)某人某物 jùjué gěi mǒurén mǒuwù
to refuse sb permission
不批准某人 bù pīzhǔn mǒurén
to refuse to do sth
拒绝(絕)做某事 jùjué zuò mǒushì
it would be impolite to refuse the invitation
拒绝(絕)邀请(請)将(將)会(會)是没(沒)礼(禮)貌的 jùjué yāoqǐng jiāng huì shì méi lǐmào de
1 (verb)
Definition
to decline to accept (something offered)
I could hardly refuse his invitation.
Synonyms
decline
He declined their invitation.
reject
She's downhearted about having been rejected from the project.
turn down
scorn
people who scorned traditional methods
People scorn me as a single parent.
spurn
a spurned lover
say no to
repudiate
He repudiated any form of nationalism.
2 (verb)
Definition
to decline to give or allow (something) to (someone)
She was refused access to her children.
Synonyms
deny
She denied the children access to her study.
decline
withhold
Police withheld the victim's name until her relatives had been informed.
not grant
discountenance
Opposites
give
,
allow
,
agree
,
accept
,
approve
, permit,
consent
(noun)
Definition
anything thrown away
a weekly collection of refuse
Synonyms
rubbish
unwanted household rubbish
waste
This country produces 10 million tonnes of toxic waste every year.
sweepings
junk (informal)
What are you going to do with all that junk?
litter
If you see litter in the corridor, pick it up.
garbage mainly US)
rotting piles of garbage
trash
The yards are overgrown and cluttered with trash.
sediment
ocean sediments
scum
I think people who hurt animals are scum.
dross
recovering gold nuggets from dross
dregs
leavings
dreck (slang, mainly US)
offscourings
lees
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dross
Definition
the scum formed on the surfaces of molten metals
recovering gold nuggets from dross
Synonyms
scum,
crust,
impurity,
scoria,
rubbish,
remains,
refuse,
lees,
waste,
debris,
dregs,
recrement
in the sense of garbage
Definition
household waste
rotting piles of garbage
Synonyms
junk,
rubbish,
litter,
trash (US),
refuse,
waste,
sweepings,
scraps,
debris,
muck,
filth,
swill,
slops,
offal,
detritus,
dross,
odds and ends,
flotsam and jetsam,
grot (slang),
leavings,
dreck (slang, US),
scourings,
offscourings
in the sense of junk
Definition
rubbish
What are you going to do with all that junk?
Synonyms
rubbish,
refuse,
waste,
scrap,
litter,
debris,
crap (slang),
garbage,
trash,
clutter,
rummage,
dross,
odds and ends,
space junk,
oddments,
flotsam and jetsam,
leavings,
dreck
Synonyms of 'refuse'
refuse
Explore 'refuse' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of litter
Definition
small items of rubbish carelessly dropped in public places
If you see litter in the corridor, pick it up.
Synonyms
rubbish,
refuse,
waste,
fragments,
junk,
debris,
shreds,
garbage (US),
trash,
muck,
detritus,
grot (slang)
in the sense of reject
Definition
to deny to (a person) the feelings hoped for
She's downhearted about having been rejected from the project.
Synonyms
rebuff,
drop,
jilt,
desert,
turn down,
ditch (slang),
break with,
spurn,
refuse,
say no to,
repulse,
throw over,
unfollow,
unfriend
in the sense of repudiate
Definition
to disown (a person)
He repudiated any form of nationalism.
Synonyms
reject,
renounce,
retract,
disown,
abandon,
desert,
reverse,
cut off,
discard,
revoke,
forsake,
cast off,
rescind,
disavow,
turn your back on,
abjure,
wash your hands of
in the sense of scorn
Definition
to refuse to have or do (something) because it is felt to be undesirable or wrong
people who scorned traditional methodsPeople scorn me as a single parent.
Synonyms
despise,
reject,
disdain,
slight,
scout (archaic),
snub,
shun,
be above,
spurn,
rebuff,
deride,
flout,
look down on,
scoff at,
make fun of,
sneer at,
hold in contempt,
turn up your nose at (informal),
contemn,
curl your lip at,
consider beneath you
in the sense of scum
Definition
a person or people regarded as worthless or criminal
I think people who hurt animals are scum.
Synonyms
rabble (derogatory),
trash (US, Canadian),
riffraff,
rubbish,
dross,
lowest of the low,
dregs of society,
canaille,
ragtag and bobtail
in the sense of sediment
Definition
matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid
ocean sediments
Synonyms
dregs,
grounds,
residue,
lees,
deposit,
precipitate,
settlings
in the sense of spurn
Definition
to reject (a person or thing) with contempt
a spurned lover
Synonyms
reject,
slight,
scorn,
rebuff,
put down,
snub,
disregard,
despise,
disdain,
repulse,
cold-shoulder,
kick in the teeth (slang),
turn your nose up at (informal),
contemn (formal)
in the sense of trash
Definition
unwanted objects
The yards are overgrown and cluttered with trash.
Synonyms
litter,
refuse,
waste,
rubbish,
sweepings,
junk (informal),
garbage,
dross,
dregs,
dreck (slang, US),
offscourings
in the sense of waste
Definition
rubbish
This country produces 10 million tonnes of toxic waste every year.
Synonyms
rubbish,
refuse,
debris,
sweepings,
scrap,
litter,
garbage,
trash (US, Canadian),
leftovers,
offal,
dross,
dregs,
leavings,
offscourings
in the sense of withhold
Definition
to keep back (information or money)
Police withheld the victim's name until her relatives had been informed.