refuse²

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɹɪˈfjuz/ UK /ɹɪˈfjuːz/ See IPA manual

verb

Audio for this pronunciation isn’t available yet.

Homographs: refuse¹ /ˈɹɛfjuːs/ — noun

Pronunciation and word origins: Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Freq #2290

Meanings

1

verb
To say firmly that you will not do something.

I refuse to listen to this nonsense any more.
2

verb
To say no to something that is offered or requested.

My request for a pay rise was refused.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to say firmly that you will... decline

2 verb · to say no to something that... decline rejectturn downveto

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Etymology

From Middle English refusen, from Old French refuser, from Vulgar Latin *refūsāre, a blend of Classical Latin refūtāre (whence also refute) and recūsāre (whence also recuse).

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

markdown