verb
refuse
REF-yoos/rɪˈfjuːz/
To decline to accept, do, or permit something.
She politely refuses a drink with a raised palm.
Etymology
The pieces reach back to “pour back,” hence “give back” or “return.” That ancestry leads to rejection: refusing an offer or demand means declining rather than accepting it.
In context
the right to refuse medical treatment? Imagine being told you need a medical procedure and having the power to say no.
More examples
- He refused to answer questions about his salary.
- The club refused entry to anyone without a ticket.
- Workers can refuse overtime without losing their jobs.
- My car refuses to start on cold mornings.
Forms
refuse · refuses · refused · refusing
refusal noun — an act of declining or withholding agreement