Pronunciations (8)
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/ˈɹɛfjuːs/
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/ɹɪˈfjuːz/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/ɹɪˈfjuz/
Pronunciation notes
- Canada
- General-American
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/ɹɪˈfjʉːz/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
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/ɹəˈfjʉːz/
Pronunciation notes
- New-Zealand
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/ɹiːˈfjuːz/
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ˈɹɛfjuːs
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ɹɪˈfjuːz
Adjective
Discarded, rejected.
Noun
Collectively, items or material that have been discarded; rubbish, garbage.
Usage- Uncountable
- Synonyms
Verb
To decline (a request or demand).
Usage- Transitive
- Examples
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My request for a pay rise was refused.
More examples (1)
After the death of his [Verney's] first wife, he proposed to Florence Nightingale but she refused him. Later he married her sister, and for many years Claydon was Miss Nightingale's second home.
To decline a request or demand, forbear; to withhold permission.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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I refuse to listen to this nonsense any more.
I asked the star if I could have her autograph, but she refused.
More examples (6)
If ye refuse […] ye shall be devoured with the sword.
The U. N. sent a commission to arrange for election of a Korean government. Russia and her satellites declined to cooperate with this Commission. Russia refused to let the Commission hold an election in north Korea, or even to enter north Korea. In southern Korea Leftist parties refused to meet with the Commission.
Eventually, the railway opened on Monday, December 14, 1896, with a universal fare of 1d. collected at the turnstiles, and conditions were immediately chaotic, as many passengers travelled round and round, and refused to leave the cars.
City were outclassed thereafter and Roberto Mancini said that substitute Carlos Tevez refused to play.
Trump has explicitly refused to deal with the European Commission, seeking instead to conduct bilateral relations with individual EU countries.
My thoughts are disturbed by a man and pooch trying to get off the front of the train. Despite hitting the door button, they refused to open.
To withhold (something) from (someone); to not give it to them or to bar them from having it.
Usage- Ditransitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
If we bang or scream they will spray us with some pepper or something else that's in an aeresol ^([sic]) can, and they wear gas masks, while the rest of us have to breathe the fumes in, and it makes us very sick and they refuse us medical treatment.
To throw back, or cause to keep back (as the centre, a wing, or a flank), out of the regular alignment when troops are about to engage the enemy.
- Examples
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to refuse the right wing while the left wing attacks
To disown.
Usage- Obsolete
- Transitive
- Examples
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Refuse thy name.
Noun
refusal
Usage- Obsolete
- Examples
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This ſpoken, readie with a proud refuſe [...]
Verb
To fuse again, as with, or after, heating or melting.
Noun
food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
Verb
show unwillingness towards
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Examples
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he declined to join the group on a hike
not accept as true
- Antonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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He refused to accept what she said
elude, especially in a baffling way
- Examples
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This behavior defies explanation
refuse to let have
- Synonyms
- Examples
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She denies me every pleasure
he denies her her weekly allowance
resist immunologically the introduction of some foreign tissue or organ
- Examples
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His body rejected the liver of the donor
refuse entrance or membership
- Broader terms
- Examples
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They turned away hundreds of fans
Black people were often rejected by country clubs