What does refused mean?
Refused is the past tense and past participle of refuse, meaning to decline, reject, or express unwillingness to accept or do something. It commonly follows the pattern “refused to” followed by an infinitive: “He refused to comment.” It can also take a noun directly, as in “She refused the offer,” or describe denial of access or permission: “They were refused entry.” The word can suggest firmness and finality, especially when an offer or proposal is deliberately rejected. As a past participle, refused is often used adjectivally, such as in “a refused request.” Refused is standard in both British and American English, with no major regional distinction.
To decline, reject, or express unwillingness to accept or do something.
"The mayor refused to resign after the inquiry."
A person or organization can refuse an offer, request, or proposal. The phrase “refuse to” plus an infinitive is especially common.
Declined, rejected, or denied; having been refused.
"The bank sent a letter confirming the refused loan application."
This participial use is common in formal and administrative contexts, especially with words such as application, request, permission, and entry.
Refusing is not always about saying no: sometimes it means declining an offer, a challenge, or even food.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does refused come from?
The English verb refuse comes through Old French refuser from Latin refundere, a compound of re- “back” and fundere “to pour,” originally conveying the idea of pouring back or rejecting. The form refused is the ordinary English past tense and past participle. Related forms include refusal and refusing, while refuse also remains the base form from which the inflected form is formed.
Related word forms
How refused is actually used
In its main sense, refused usually takes an infinitive introduced by “to,” an offer, request, or proposal. In the sense of being denied access or permission, it is often used in the passive: “They were refused entry.”
Easily confused with refused
To refuse something is to reject or decline it, whereas to rescue someone is to save them from danger or difficulty.