WordGarden.iorefuse
B1Pronunciation
UK
US
- /ˈrɛfˌjuz/
Meanings
Verb
to say or show that you will not do, accept, give, or allow something
Noun
discarded waste or trash
Beyond the definition
To refuse something can mean to say "no"—like turning down an offer of help or a slice of cake. But it also has another meaning: refuse can be trash, waste, or garbage. So you might refuse a request and take out the refuse.
Think of it this way: You can refuse to accept something, such as a gift or an invitation, or you can deal with things people have thrown away. The context tells you which meaning is intended. A king might refuse to grant a petition, while a sanitation worker deals with household refuse.
The word refuse carries two distinct but related meanings. At its heart, it can mean to decline or reject something that is offered or requested. To refuse an invitation is to say "no." You might refuse to answer a question you do not want to address, or refuse help when you prefer to do things yourself. This meaning suggests a conscious choice: a deliberate decision not to accept something.
However, refuse also has a much less glamorous side. It is commonly used as a noun for waste material: trash, garbage, and discarded items. The city collects household refuse every week. This usage grows from the idea of "rejecting" something: things we no longer want or need become refuse.
To truly master this word, notice how the pronunciation shifts. When you use the verb to mean "say no," you stress the second syllable: re-FUSE. When you use the noun to mean trash, you stress the first: REF-use.
So, whether you are politely declining an offer or sorting through the trash, remember that refuse speaks to both rejection and what is left behind. It is a word about saying "no" to requests and about the things people leave behind.
Examples
- 1
Offer
She refused his offer and walked away.
- 2
Questions
He refused to answer any more questions.
- Patternrefuse to + verb
say firmly that you will not do it
- 3
Loan request
The bank refused to lend him the money.
- 4
Permission
My dad refused me permission to go on the trip.
- Patternrefuse someone something
not allow them to have it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Border control
Several passengers were refused entry at the border.
- Phraserefuse entry
not allow someone to enter
- 6
Disbelief
She still refuses to believe that the plan has failed.
- 7
Public statement
The company refused to comment on the rumor.
- Usagerefuse to comment
an official way to say that you will not give information
- 8
Household waste
The truck collects household refuse every Thursday.
- Usagehousehold refuse
garbage from homes; more formal than trash or garbage
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- refusenounverb
Forms
- refusedpast tenseverbnoun
- refusesverbnoun
- refusing-ing formverbnoun