Reject — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ri-ˈjekt/ (verb) /ˈrē-ˌjekt/ (noun) re·ject

Meaning & Definition of Reject

Reject (verb)

  1. to refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use
  2. to refuse to hear, receive, or admit, rebuff, repel
  3. to refuse as lover or spouse

Reject (noun)

  1. a rejected person or thing; especially, one rejected as not wanted, unsatisfactory, or not fulfilling requirements

Reject (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be unwilling to grant

    "rejected his request for time off"

    similar: decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse, reprobate, withhold
    related: ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto, rebuff, repel, spurn, check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict, balk (at), hinder, impede, obstruct
    opposite: allow, concede, grant, let, OK, permit
    near: afford, furnish, give, provide, supply, authorize, commission, license, accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), warrant, accord, sanction, vouchsafe

  2. to declare not to be true

    "I reject the claim that I have ever lied about that"

    similar: contradict, deny, disaffirm, disallow, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, disown, gainsay, negate, negative, refute, repudiate
    related: traverse, challenge, confute, disprove, rebut, disagree (with), dispute
    opposite: acknowledge, admit, allow, avow, concede, confirm, own
    near: accept, adopt, embrace, espouse, affirm, announce, assert, aver, claim, declare, maintain, profess, submit, authenticate, corroborate, substantiate, validate, verify

  3. to get rid of as useless or unwanted

    "sorted through the nuts and rejected any that had cracked shells or were shattered"

    similar: cashier, cast (off), chuck, deep-six, discard, ditch, dump, eighty-six, exorcise, fling (off or away), jettison, junk, lay by, lose, pitch, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough (off), throw away, throw out, toss, unload, dispose of, set aside
    related: abandon, abdicate, desert, forsake, dismiss, kick out, abolish, annihilate, eliminate, eradicate, expunge, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, liquidate, remove, root (out), stamp (out), wipe out
    near: adopt, embrace, take on, employ, use, utilize, hold, hold back, keep, retain

  4. to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to

    "rejected his marriage proposal"

    similar: balk (at), decline, deselect, disapprove, negative, nix, pass, pass up, refuse, reprobate, repudiate, spurn, throw out, throw over, turn down, turn one's back on
    related: blow off, disdain, rebuff, scorn, scout, shoot down, overrule, veto, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, dismiss, ignore, abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from), deny, disavow, disclaim, dispute, gainsay, stick, abjure, forswear, recant, renounce, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw, avoid, bypass, detour, contradict, disown, negate, controvert, disagree (with), disprove, rebut, refute, back down, back off, backtrack, disallow, recall, renege, revoke
    opposite: accept, agree (to), approve
    near: condone, countenance, swallow, tolerate, adopt, embrace, receive, take, welcome, accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent, choose, handpick, select, espouse, support

Reject (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. one who is cast out or rejected by society

    "was the school reject as a child and has low self-esteem even today"

    similar: castaway, castoff, leper, offscouring, outcast, pariah
    related: untouchable, outsider, deportee, exile
    near: insider

  2. something separated from a group or lot for not being as good as the others

    "that apple has a mushy spot on it, so it's a reject"

    similar: cull, discard, rejection, second
    related: castaway, throwaway, hand-me-down, white elephant, rubbish, scrap, trash, waste

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Reject

The most common words with a similar meaning to Reject:

decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse, reprobate, withhold, contradict, disaffirm, disavow, disclaim, disconfirm, disown, gainsay, negate, refute, repudiate, cashier, cast (off), chuck, deep-six, discard, ditch, dump, eighty-six, exorcise, fling (off or away), jettison, junk, lay by, lose, pitch, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough (off), throw away, throw out

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Reject

Words with the opposite meaning of Reject:

allow, concede, grant, let, OK, permit, acknowledge, admit, avow, confirm, own, accept, agree (to), approve

Related Words for Reject

ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto, rebuff, repel, check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict, hinder, impede, obstruct, traverse, challenge, confute, disprove, rebut, disagree (with), dispute, abandon, abdicate, desert, forsake

Near Antonyms of Reject

afford, furnish, give, provide, supply, authorize, commission, license, accede (to), acquiesce, assent (to), consent (to), warrant, accord, sanction, vouchsafe, adopt, embrace, espouse, affirm, announce, assert, aver, claim, declare, maintain, profess, submit, authenticate, corroborate

Word Forms of Reject

Inflections: rejected, rejecting, rejects

Derived words: rejecter (noun), rejectingly (adverb), rejective (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Reject

Middle English, from Latin rejectus, past participle of reicere, from re- + jacere to throw jet

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Reject

  • Topics: Common Actions / Verbs

Frequently Asked Questions about Reject

What does "Reject" mean?

"Reject" means to refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Reject"?

Other words for "Reject" include decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse and reprobate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Reject" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Reject"?

There are 145 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Reject". Common alternatives include decline, deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse, reprobate, withhold and contradict.

What is the opposite of "Reject"?

Antonyms of "Reject" include allow, concede, grant, let, OK, permit, acknowledge and admit. Near antonyms include afford, furnish, give and provide.

How do you use "Reject" in a sentence?

Examples of "Reject" in a sentence: "rejected his request for time off"; "I reject the claim that I have ever lied about that"; "sorted through the nuts and rejected any that had cracked shells or were shattered".

Is "Reject" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Reject" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Reject"?

"Reject" is pronounced /ri-ˈjekt/ as a verb and /ˈrē-ˌjekt/ as a noun and divided into syllables as re·ject.

What is the origin of the word "Reject"?

"Reject" comes from Middle English, from Latin rejectus, past participle of reicere, from re- + jacere to throw jet. First known use: 15th century.