Improve Your English – Lesson 19: DENY/REFUSE
Students often confuse the meaning of these two words and use them interchangeably.
Refuse is a verb that typically means someone is unwilling to allow, accept, consider, or receive someone or something.
Refuse may imply that someone is determined and may even be mildly rude in their refusal.
Example: When he came to her office, she refused to see him.
Deny is also a verb and usually has the meaning to refuse to admit the existence, truth, or value of something. She denied that her car was worth only £500.
- Don’t say: She was offered an opportunity to take a great job in China, but she denied to take it.
- Do say: She was offered an opportunity to take a great job in China, but she refused to take it.
- Don’t say: Some people say he gambles away all of his earnings. But he refuses it.
- Do say: Some people say he gambles away all of his earnings. But he denies it
