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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Refuse Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：say no to (refuse)

refuse 🔊

/rɪˈfjuːz/

to say no to something or not accept it

Person politely refusing a gift with a stop gesture

say no to 🔊

➕

/seɪ nəʊ tuː/

To indicate that you will not do, accept, or agree with something.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'refusare': 're-' (back) + 'fusus' (poured). Original meaning: to pour back, hence reject.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 're' + 'fuse': when you refuse, you 'fuse' the offer back to the other person.

📖 Example

She refused the extra dessert, saying she was already full. 🔊 The woman did not accept the extra dessert as she was already satisfied.

🔗 Collocations

refuse to do – decide not to perform an action

refuse an offer – decline a proposal or suggestion

refuse permission – deny authorization for something

🔄 Synonyms

reject (v.) – To dismiss or turn down something firmly.

decline (v.) – To politely say no to an invitation or offer.

turn down (phrasal v.) – To refuse an offer or request.

🚫 Antonyms

accept (v.) – To agree to take something offered.

agree (v.) – To consent to a proposal or plan.

consent (v.) – To give permission for something.

🌱 Derivatives

refusal (n.) – the act of saying no or declining

refuser (n.) – a person who refuses

refusable (adj.) – able to be refused

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Latin 'refusare' (to pour back), from 're-' + 'fusus'. The sense shifted from physically pouring back to metaphorically rejecting an offer. In modern English, 'refuse' is common in everyday refusals like 'refuse an invitation'.

Meaning 2：trash (refuse)

refuse 🔊

/rɪˈfjuːz/

waste or trash that is thrown away

trash 🔊

➕

/træʃ/

Waste materials that are discarded because they are no longer useful.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The park was clean because volunteers collected all the refuse after the festival. 🔊 Volunteers gathered all the trash left after the festival, resulting in a clean park.

🔗 Collocations

household refuse – waste produced by a home

refuse collection – the service of picking up waste

refuse disposal – the process of getting rid of garbage

🔄 Synonyms

trash (n.) – Discarded material; rubbish.

garbage (n.) – Waste material, especially from a kitchen.

waste (n.) – Unwanted or unusable materials.

🚫 Antonyms

treasure (n.) – Something valuable and kept.

valuables (n.) – Items of great worth.