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refuse
/rɪˈfjuːz/
to reject or decline
She refused the job offer because it didn't align with her values.
She declined the job offer because it didn't match her principles.
formalinformal
to reject or decline something offered or requested
He refused to sign the contract without legal advice.
He declined to sign the contract without consulting a lawyer.
Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
formal
to deny or reject something as unacceptable or inadequate
The court refused to accept the evidence due to its questionable origin.
The court rejected the evidence because of its dubious source.
Often used in legal or formal contexts.
informal
to decline to do something
She refused to answer the question.
She declined to answer the question.
Common in everyday conversation.
Collocations
refuse to do somethingto decline to perform an actionrefuse an offerto decline a proposal or requestrefuse to acceptto decline to receive or acknowledge
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
'Refuse' is often used in formal contexts, but it can also be used informally.
Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
In formal contexts, 'refuse' is often used to decline offers or requests. In informal contexts, it can be used to decline actions or requests.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'refusen', from Old French 'refuser', from Latin 'refusare', meaning 'to pour back' or 'to reject'.
Usage Notes
Can be used as a transitive verb (requires an object) or intransitively (without an object).
Word Breakdown
re-
back
prefix-fuse
to pour
rootEnglish Dictionary