reject

/rɪˈdʒɛkt/

Say it: ri-JEKT

1. verb To refuse to accept, use, or believe something or someone, often because it fails to meet a standard.
The publisher rejected the manuscript, suggesting major revisions.
2. verb To refuse to give someone the love or attention they need or desire.
He felt rejected by his friends when they made plans without him.
3. verb (Medicine) To have an immune response that attacks a transplanted organ or tissue.
Unfortunately, her body began to reject the new kidney.
4. noun A person or thing that has been dismissed as not good enough.
The factory outlet sells designer rejects at a steep discount.

📖 Seen in the wild

The committee decided to reject the proposal due to its impracticality.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ reject in a sentence

The board of directors rejected the hostile takeover bid.
The quality control system automatically rejects any product with a visible flaw.
She flatly rejected his apology, saying it was too little, too late.
Many great artists and thinkers were rejected by the mainstream society of their time.
The court can either accept or reject the appeal.
He was rejected from every college he applied to, which was a devastating blow.
The new software rejects any password that is not at least 12 characters long.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

refuse decline spurn repudiate turn down dismiss deny discard

refuse · implies a more direct, often verbal, denial of a request or command.

decline · a more polite and formal way to refuse, typically for an offer or invitation.

spurn · a stronger word that implies scorn or contempt in the rejection.

repudiate · a very formal term for rejecting something with force, often an idea, accusation, or debt.

Opposites: accept, approve, welcome, embrace, select

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'reject' comes to us from the Latin 'reicere', which literally means 'to throw back'. It was formed from 're-', meaning 'back', and 'iacere', meaning 'to throw'. This vivid image of physically throwing something back perfectly captures the modern sense of forcefully refusing or dismissing something.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

reject a proposalreject an offerflatly rejectreject a claimreject an appealsummarily reject

Pay attention to the stress shift: the verb is 'ri-JEKT', while the noun is 'REE-jekt'. 'Reject' is a strong, direct word that can carry a negative connotation of failure or inadequacy. If you want to soften the refusal of an offer, a word like 'decline' is often a better choice. For example, you 'decline' a job offer, but an editor 'rejects' a manuscript.

Word family: rejection

💬 Quick answers

What does 'reject' mean?

To reject something means to refuse to accept, use, or acknowledge it. It often implies that the thing being rejected is unsatisfactory or does not meet a certain standard.

What is the difference between 'reject' and 'refuse'?

'Reject' often implies a judgment about quality (rejecting a flawed proposal), while 'refuse' is a more general term for being unwilling to do or accept something (refusing to leave). 'Reject' is often more formal and final.

How do you pronounce the noun and verb forms of 'reject'?

The verb is stressed on the second syllable: ri-JEKT. The noun, which refers to a rejected item, is stressed on the first syllable: REE-jekt.

Is 'reject' a formal word?

Yes, 'reject' is considered a standard, neutral-to-formal word. In casual conversation, people might use a softer phrase like 'turn down' or 'pass on'.

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