reject

play

verb re·ject \ ri-ˈjekt \

Definition of reject

transitive verb

1 a :to refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use

rejected the suggestion

reject a manuscript

b :to refuse to hear, receive, or admit :rebuff, repel

parents who reject their children

c :to refuse as lover or spouse

2 obsolete :to cast off

3 :throw back, repulse

4 :to spew out

5 :to subject to immunological rejection

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rejecter

or rejector play \-ˈjek-tər\ noun

—

rejectingly

play \-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

—

rejective

play \-ˈjek-tiv\ adjective

See reject defined for English-language learners

See reject defined for kids

Examples of reject in a Sentence

My teacher rejected my excuse for being late.
The committee rejected my proposal.
The produce inspector rejected several crates of berries that had begun to grow mold.
The college rejects hundreds of applicants each year.
We rejected 5 of the 10 job applicants right away.

Recent Examples of reject from the Web

Commission members had discussed the idea of a third-party investigating LMPD cases to boost confidence in the investigation, though that recommendation was ultimately rejected.

— matthew glowicki, The Courier-Journal, "If Louisville's police watchdog group is a bulldog that 'cannot bite,' is it relevant?," 28 Aug. 2017
But soon the excitement wore off, and they were rejected by the Washington elite.

— elaine godfrey, The Atlantic, "The Atlantic Politics & Policy Daily: ‘You’re Going to Have What You Need’," 28 Aug. 2017
News that their appeal had been rejected came amid numerous signs of the downward spiral in the relations between Iran and the United States.

— rick gladstone, New York Times, "Iran Upholds Convictions of Iranian-American Father and Son," 28 Aug. 2017
Under U.S. law and international treaties, border officials do not have the authority to reject asylum seekers but rather must pass them along to asylum officers, who determine whether their claims seem to be valid.

— kate morrissey, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Ukrainian boxer wins asylum in U.S.," 28 Aug. 2017
The IRB can reject research based on safety concerns.

— marisa taylor, Kaiser Health News, "Offshore Human Testing Of Herpes Vaccine Stokes Debate Over U.S. Safety Rules," 28 Aug. 2017
And in March of this year, a St. Louis jury once again sided with the company, rejecting a woman’s claim that Johnson’s Baby Powder was responsible for the disease.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Woman Wins $417 Million in Lawsuit Tying Baby Powder to Ovarian Cancer," 24 Aug. 2017
And one former school official failed to gain a seat on the board that had rejected his request to become superintendent.

— erin edgemon, AL.com, "Birmingham voters re-elect 6 to City Council; Austin, Rafferty face runoffs," 23 Aug. 2017
A paper about the feat was rejected several times before being published.

— gunjan sinha, Science | AAAS, "This scientist is building miniature guts, livers, and lungs that could save your life one day," 23 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reject.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of reject

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

reject Synonyms

Synonyms

decline, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse, deny, reprobate, withhold

Antonyms

allow, concede, grant, let, OK (or okay), permit

Related Words

ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto; rebuff, repel, spurn; check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict; balk (at), hinder, impede, obstruct

Near Antonyms

afford, furnish, give, provide, supply; authorize, commission, license (also licence); accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), warrant; accord, sanction, vouchsafe

Synonym Discussion of reject

decline, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn mean to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering. decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.

- declined his party's nomination

refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

- refused to lend them the money

reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.

- rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.

- teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.

- spurned his overtures of friendship

reject

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noun re·ject \ ˈrē-ˌjekt \

Definition of reject

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

See reject defined for English-language learners

Examples of reject in a Sentence

Stack the promising applications here, and put the rejects over there.
was the school reject as a child and has low self-esteem even today

Recent Examples of reject from the Web

Jones, who also saved the English-language 'Diary of Anne Frank' from the reject pile, died yesterday at age 93.

— claire zillman, Fortune, "The World’s Most Powerful Women: August 3," 2 Aug. 2017
Judith Jones, the editor who changed the world of at-home cooking with her discovery of Julia Child, recovered Anne Frank’s diary from a reject pile, and edited the works of cookbook and literary giants alike, passed away on Wednesday.

— sam gillette, PEOPLE.com, "Legendary Book Editor Judith Jones, Who Brought Us Julia Child and The Diary of Anne Frank, Dies at 93," 2 Aug. 2017
July 17 Dashboard Confessional/The All-American Rejects: 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 17, Outlaw Field, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise.

— michelle jenkins, idahostatesman, "Launch into summer with music, fireworks," 23 June 2017
July 17 Dashboard Confessional/The All-American Rejects: 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 17, Outlaw Field, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise.

— michelle jenkins, idahostatesman, "Launch into summer with music, fireworks," 23 June 2017
Looking like a reject from Spinal Tap, MacLachlan seems to be having a lot of fun with this role.

— viv groskop, Newsweek, "Twin Peaks Review: Was the 21st-Century Update of David Lynch's Show Worth the Wait?," 30 May 2017
Pujols will be hopping to first base on crutches, the Angels will still be bringing in stiffs to play left field and second base, the catcher will be a AAA reject, and the starting staff will be rolling out guys that were No.

— los angeles times, latimes.com, "Letters: There's something wrong with these rights," 19 May 2017
In the context of a bouncy showtune, though, the sentiment feels like a Hallmark reject.

— hampton stevens, kansascity.com, "MET’s well-acted ‘9 to 5: The Musical’ feels like an homage to Dolly Parton," 15 May 2017
Rejects are left to pick up street magic in the gritty confines of Brooklyn.

— doug stumpf, HWD, "Inside the Dark, Whimsical—Musical?—World of The Magicians," 27 Jan. 2017

First Known Use of reject

circa 1555

reject Synonyms

Synonyms

castaway, castoff, leper, offscouring, pariah, outcast

Related Words

untouchable; outsider; deportee, exile

Near Antonyms

insider

REJECT Defined for English Language Learners

reject

play

verb

Definition of reject for English Language Learners

: to refuse to believe, accept, or consider (something)
: to decide not to publish (something) or make (something) available to the public because it is not good enough
: to refuse to allow (someone) to join a club, to attend a school, etc.

reject

play

noun

Definition of reject for English Language Learners

: something that is not good enough for some purpose : something that cannot be used or accepted
: a person who is not accepted or liked by other people

REJECT Defined for Kids

reject

play

verb re·ject \ ri-ˈjekt \

Definition of reject for Students

rejected; rejecting

:to refuse to accept, believe, or consider

Dad rejected my excuse.

He rejected their offer.

Word Root of reject

The Latin word jacere, meaning “to throw,” and its form jactus give us the root ject. Words from the Latin jacere have something to do with throwing. To reject is to throw back or away. To eject is to throw out. To inject is to throw one thing into another. To project is to throw forward onto a surface.

reject

play

noun re·ject \ ˈrē-ˌjekt \

Definition of reject for Students

:a person or thing not accepted as good enough for some purpose

Medical Dictionary

reject

play

transitive verb re·ject \ ri-ˈjekt \

medical Definition of reject

1 :to rebuff, repel, refuse to hear, or withhold love from; especially :to communicate negative feelings toward and a wish to be free of

parents who reject their children

2 :to subject to immunological rejection

rejected a heart transplant

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rejective

play \ri-ˈjek-tiv\ adjective

Law Dictionary

reject

play

transitive verb re·ject \ ri-ˈjekt \

legal Definition of reject

:to refuse to accept, acknowledge, or grant — compare revoke

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reject

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reject

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reject

Definition of reject for English Language Learners

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reject

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reject

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Medical Dictionary

reject

medical Definition of reject

rejective

Law Dictionary

reject

legal Definition of reject

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