deny
saying that something is not true
If you deny an accusation or a statement, you say that it is not true.
The accused women denied all the charges brought against them.
He denied that he was involved.
Gabriel denied doing anything illegal.
Be careful
Deny must be followed by an object, a that-clause, or an -ing form. You say, for example, ‘He accused her of stealing, but she denied it’. Don't say ‘He accused her of stealing but she denied’.
Deny must be followed by an object, a that-clause, or an -ing form. You say, for example, ‘He accused her of stealing, but she denied it’. Don't say ‘He accused her of stealing but she denied’.
Be careful
If someone answers ‘no’ to an ordinary question in which they are not accused of anything, don't say that they ‘deny’ what they are asked. Don't say, for example, ‘I asked him if the train had left, and he denied it’. You say ‘I asked him if the train had left, and he said no’.
If someone answers ‘no’ to an ordinary question in which they are not accused of anything, don't say that they ‘deny’ what they are asked. Don't say, for example, ‘I asked him if the train had left, and he denied it’. You say ‘I asked him if the train had left, and he said no’.
She asked if you'd been in and I said no.
refusing to let someone have something
If you deny someone something that they need or want, you refuse to let them have it.
His ex-wife denied him access to his children.
Don't deny yourself pleasure.
Be careful
However, if someone says that they will not do something that someone asks them to do, don't say that they ‘deny’ it. You say that they refuse to do it or refuse.
However, if someone says that they will not do something that someone asks them to do, don't say that they ‘deny’ it. You say that they refuse to do it or refuse.
Three employees were dismissed for refusing to join a union.
We asked them to play a game with us, but they refused.