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# refusal

noun (a refusal, refusals)

«refusal» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A refusal is when someone says no, or will not do, give or accept something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refusal/#m1)

### In the lessons

In stories a refusal can start a conflict: the king's refusal to help. In everyday life and safety: a firm refusal is the right answer to a stranger's offer of a lift or to pressure to do something dangerous. In sport (horse riding), a refusal is when a horse will not jump. Phrases: a flat refusal, refusal to, met with refusal.

### Examples

- His refusal to share made his sister cry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refusal/#x1)
- The shop's refusal to give a refund was unfair. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refusal/#x2)
- She gave a polite but firm refusal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refusal/#x3)
- The horse made a refusal at the last fence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refusal/#x4)
- Your refusal to get in a stranger's car was exactly right. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refusal/#x5)
- The council's refusal surprised everyone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refusal/#x6)
- Watanabe could not hold out in his refusal any longer, so he gave in at last, saying: [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refusal/#x7)

### Note

Countable: a refusal, refusals. Spelled -al with one l. Verb: refuse (re-FUSE). Do not confuse with the noun «refuse» (REF-use), which means rubbish.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «refusal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/refusal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«refusal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/refusal.html) on Mova free.