From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishrefusere‧fuse1 /rɪˈfjuːz/ ●●● S2 W1 verb 1 [intransitive]REFUSE to say firmly that you will not do something that someone has asked you to do She asked him to leave, but he refused.refuse to do something The chairman refused to answer any more questions. I absolutely refuse to take part in anything illegal.flatly refuse/refuse point-blank (to do something) (=refuse immediately and directly without giving a reason) Mom flatly refused to go back into the hospital.2 [intransitive, transitive]REFUSE to say no to something that you have been offered SYN turn down She refused a second piece of cake. The offer seemed too good to refuse. When they offered all that money, I could hardly refuse, could I? (=it was very unlikely that you would refuse)3 [transitive]REFUSE to not give or allow someone something that they want, especially when they have asked for it officiallyrefuse somebody something She was refused a work permit.COLLOCATIONSadverbsstubbornly refuseHe stubbornly refused to pay the fine.adamantly refuse formal (=in a determined way)They are still adamantly refusing to release the data to the general public.steadfastly refuse (=refuse, and continue to refuse)She steadfastly refused to marry him.consistently refusePoliticians have consistently refused to listen to us.flatly refuse (=in a firm and definite way)He flatly refused to tell me anything.simply refuse (=used for emphasis)Some children simply refuse to do what they’re told.refuse point-blank (=directly and without explanation)I refused point-blank to let him in.phrasessomebody can hardly refuse (=it would be unreasonable or very difficult to refuse)Going out was the last thing I wanted to do, but I could hardly refuse. THESAURUSrefuse to say firmly that you will not do something that someone has asked you to doI asked the bank for a loan, but they refused.When they refused to leave, we had to call the police.say no spoken to say that you will not do something when someone asks youThey asked me so nicely that I couldn’t really say no.turn somebody/something down to refuse to accept an offer or invitation, or a formal requestThey offered me the job but I turned it down.The board turned down a request for $25,000 to sponsor an art exhibition. I’ve already been turned down by three colleges.reject to refuse to accept an idea, offer, suggestion, or planThey rejected the idea because it would cost too much money.The Senate rejected a proposal to limit the program to two years.decline formal to politely refuse to accept an offer or invitation, or refuse to do somethingShe has declined all offers of help.A palace spokesman declined to comment on the rumours.deny to refuse to allow someone to do something or enter somewhereThey were denied permission to publish the book. He was denied access to the US.veto to officially refuse to allow a law or plan, or to refuse to accept someone’s suggestionCongress vetoed the bill.The suggestion was quickly vetoed by the other members of the team.disallow to officially refuse to accept something because someone has broken the rules, or not done it in the correct wayThe goal was disallowed by the referee.The court decided to disallow his evidence.rebuff formal to refuse to accept someone’s offer, request, or suggestionThe company raised its offer to $6 billion, but was rebuffed.He was politely rebuffed when he suggested holding the show in Dublin.give somebody/something the thumbs down informal to refuse to allow or accept a plan or suggestionThe plan was given the thumbs down by the local authority.They gave us the thumbs down. → See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
refuse• The offer was so good how could I refuse?• It is understood that a number of applications for advance clearance under s 707 for such arrangements have been refused.• He tried to persuade her to come with him, but she refused.• I asked Stevie if she would help us, but she refused.• He never refuses a drink, does he?• The 1976 Act also makes a radical change as regards the grounds for granting or refusing an application for a licence.• You wouldn't refuse an old friend a favour, would you?• He flatly refuses any offers of financial help.• The city is refusing contracts to firms that do not practice an equal opportunities policy.• Sutton refused food in protest against conditions in the prison.• He was unable to attend the meeting in Moscow, because the Russian authorities had refused him a visa.• She refused his advances and confounded a multitude of scholars assembled by him to overcome her scruples.• Judge Eyck refused his request for bail.• Over 2,000 applications for political asylum were refused last year.• Some banks are threatening to refuse loans to anyone who cannot provide suitable guarantees.• Under the law, doctors cannot refuse patients access to their own medical records.• Ms. Knight refused to accept the manager's apology.• Players were pressing and self-doubt was evident, especially when shots refused to drop.• Via his lawyer, Sam refused to give Clare money because he didn't want a divorce.• The church refused to give legitimacy to the new state.• If they refuse to leave, call the police.• The following day, doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital refused to operate because the parents had not given consent.• Mother flatly refused to see the doctor.• The charge was dropped when Lewinksy refused to testify.• The committee was forcing Dozoretz to attend Thursday's hearing to publicly refuse to testify.refuse to do something• We have promised to tell each other if the doctors refuse to.• A vocal minority refused to agree.• Steen refused to answer any questions.• Duffy refuses to fall into the trap of spoon-feeding the material to passive students, which only increases their passivity.• I know from experience that fear can be handled if you refuse to let it take over.• Even as the day began, rumours were rife that the band had refused to play.• Boseman was kicked out of practice on Tuesday for refusing to take a charge against huge forward Maurice Strong.• But no party is willing to refuse to take advantage of these loopholes when the other party is doing it.• The hospital is refusing to take non-emergency patients.refuse somebody something• Immigration authorities refused him a visa.refuseref‧use2 /ˈrefjuːs/ noun [uncountable] formal waste material that has been thrown away SYN rubbish British English, trash, garbage American English a refuse dumphousehold/domestic refuse refuse collectionExamples from the Corpus
refuse• Refuse collection has been seriously affected by the strike.• Heaps of decaying refuse littered every street.• This was made up of the organic residues of farms, forestry, industry and domestic refuse.• Workers on Monday mucked out basement and main-floor refuse left by the water.• facilities for recycling household refuse• Paul's guide to this mighty sauce is three large refuse sacks of breadcrumbs to 60 pints of milk.• We are gradually developing safer and more effective methods of refuse disposal.• The colonies were a disposal area for social refuse.household/domestic refuse• This was made up of the organic residues of farms, forestry, industry and domestic refuse.• Unlike habitation sites, they have little domestic refuse and, unlike cemetery sites, they do not normally contain burials.• This aims to reduce the mounting flood of household refuse, which currently stands at 70 million tonnes a year.• Talk is of household refuse trains going back to the moth-balled Gobowen to Nanbrynmawr line - from Manchester.• As with domestic refuse, the problems of methane gas generation also exist when disposing of industrial waste underground.Origin refuse1 (1300-1400) Old French refuser, from Latin refundere “to pour back” refuse2 (1300-1400) Old French refus, from refuser; → REFUSE1 