Refused Refuse Rɪˈfjuːz Simply Extra Examples I Refuse1

• go on, ask her; she can hardly refuse.
• 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.

refuse1

Verb Forms

1. 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.
• 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.
• The demand for an apology was pointedly refused.

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.
2. to say that you do not want something that has been offered to you
• SYNONYM turn somebody/something down
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/turn-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.
3. 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
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/deny
• 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.
• They refused him a visa.
• The judge refused them permission to appeal.
• She would never refuse her kids anything.
4. 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.

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French refuser, probably an alteration of Latin recusare ‘to refuse’, influenced by refutare ‘refute’.