refuse (/rɪˈfjuːz/)
verb · Intermediate · Common Verbs
🔊 /rɪˈfjuːz/
Meaning
Meaning: say no to
To say firmly that you will not do or accept something.
Examples
🗣 The proud old man would refuse any help, even when he clearly needed it.
Etymology
From Old French ‘refuser’, probably from a blend of Latin ‘recusare’ and ‘refutare’.
How & Where It’s Used
Verb stresses second syllable; the noun (refuse, waste) stresses the first.
Tags: choice, communication