Pronunciation change

Verb
Noun

Verb change

Plain form
refuse

Third-person singular
refuses

Past tense
refused

Past participle
refused

Present participle
refusing

  1. (transitive & intransitive) If you refuse a request or demand, you decline or reject it.
    I refuse to take the offer for this house.
  2. (transitive) If you refuse a request or demand, you do not give your permission for it; you withhold it.
    My request for a pay raise was refused.

Usage notes change

  • This verb can be followed by a to-infinitival:
I refuse to take the offer for this house.

Noun change

Singular
refuse

Plural
none

  1. (uncountable) Refuse is stuff that people don't need and throw away.