refuse
/ɹɪˈfjuz/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.39 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "My request for a pay rise was refused."
- "After the death of his [Verney's] first wife, he proposed to Florence Nightingale but she refused him. Later he married her sister, and for many years Claydon was Miss Nightingale's second home."
- "I refuse to listen to this nonsense any more."
- "I asked the star if I could have her autograph, but she refused."
- "If ye refuse […] ye shall be devoured with the sword."
- "The U. N. sent a commission to arrange for election of a Korean government. Russia and her satellites declined to cooperate with this Commission. Russia refused to let the Commission hold an election in north Korea, or even to enter north Korea. In southern Korea Leftist parties refused to meet with the Commission."
Etymology
Borrowed into late Middle English from Middle French refusé, past participle of refuser (“to refuse”). Displaced native Middle English wernen (“to refuse”) likely due to the similar sounding Middle English warnen
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɹɪˈfjuz/
- British English: /ɹɪˈfjuːz/
Usage
Inflected Forms
more refuse (comparative)
most refuse (superlative)
refuses (present, singular)
refusing (participle, present)
refused (participle, past)
refused (past)
no-table-tags (table tags)
glossary (inflection template)
refused (first person, past)
refusest (archaic, present)
refused (past, second person)
refusedst (archaic, past)