Dictionaries Dictionaries home English American English Academic Collocations German-English Dictionaries home American English Grammar Grammar home Practical English Usage Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta) Practical English Usage Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta) Word Lists Word Lists home My Word Lists Topics Recent additions Word Lists home Recent additions Resources Resources home Text Checker Dictionaries home American English Practical English Usage Learn & Practise Grammar (Beta) Word Lists home Recent additions Definition of refuse 1 verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary [intransitive, transitive] to say or show that you will not do something that somebody has asked you to do Go on, ask her; she can hardly refuse. refuse to do something He flatly refused to discuss the matter. She refused to accept that there was a problem. My brother refused to allow anyone to help him. She refused to comment further. He has steadfastly refused to answer my questions. They simply refuse to give up. refuse something The demand for an apology was pointedly refused. More Like This Verbs usually followed by infinitives Verbs usually followed by infinitives afford agree appear arrange attempt beg choose consent decide expect fail happen hesitate hope intend learn manage mean neglect offer prepare pretend promise refuse swear try want wish Extra Examples Gerard refused point-blank to cooperate. He didn't dare to refuse. The Court has repeatedly refused to bend on this point. Workers should be entitled to refuse to work under these conditions. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverb absolutely utterly adamantly … verb + refuse cannot can hardly be entitled to … See full entry Go on, ask her; she can hardly refuse. refuse to do something He flatly refused to discuss the matter. She refused to accept that there was a problem. My brother refused to allow anyone to help him. She refused to comment further. He has steadfastly refused to answer my questions. They simply refuse to give up. refuse something The demand for an apology was pointedly refused. Gerard refused point-blank to cooperate. He didn't dare to refuse.

The Court has repeatedly refused to bend on this point. Workers should be entitled to refuse to work under these conditions. [transitive, intransitive] refuse (something) to say that you do not want something that has been offered to you synonym turn somebody/something down I politely refused their invitation. The job offer was simply too good to refuse. I must refuse your generous offer. She offered them cups of tea and it seemed churlish to refuse. Extra Examples We invited her to the wedding but she refused. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Two patients refused treatment. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverb absolutely utterly adamantly … verb + refuse cannot can hardly be entitled to … See full entry I politely refused their invitation. The job offer was simply too good to refuse. I must refuse your generous offer. She offered them cups of tea and it seemed churlish to refuse. We invited her to the wedding but she refused. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Two patients refused treatment. [transitive] to say that you will not allow something; to say that you will not give or allow somebody something that they want or need synonym deny refuse something He refused our request for an interview. The bank refused his demand for a full refund. The authorities refused permission for the new housing development. The judge refused her application for bail. The government has refused all demands for a public inquiry. refuse somebody something They refused him a visa. The judge refused them permission to appeal. She would never refuse her kids anything. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverb absolutely utterly adamantly … verb + refuse cannot can hardly be entitled to … See full entry refuse something He refused our request for an interview. The bank refused his demand for a full refund. The authorities refused permission for the new housing development. The judge refused her application for bail. The government has refused all demands for a public inquiry. refuse somebody something They refused him a visa. The judge refused them permission to appeal. She would never refuse her kids anything. [transitive] ( of a thing ) to fail to do what you want or expect it to do The car refused to start. The problem simply refuses to go away. My ear infection is refusing to heal. Extra Examples Once told, these stories refuse to disappear. The stain refused to budge. My legs just refused to work. More Like This Verbs with two objects Verbs with two objects bet bring build buy cost get give leave lend make offer owe pass pay play post promise read refuse sell send show sing take teach tell throw wish write The car refused to start. The problem simply refuses to go away. My ear infection is refusing to heal. Once told, these stories refuse to disappear. The stain refused to budge. My legs just refused to work. refurbishment noun refuse collector noun