reject

verb re·ject \ ri-ˈjekt \

|Updated on: 4 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: reject in a Sentence

Definition of reject

rejected; rejecting; rejects

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 \ri-ˈjek-tər\ noun

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rejectingly

play \ri-ˈjek-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

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rejective

play \ri-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

In the mid-1950s, the University of Lund in Sweden rejected Arvid Carlsson’s application for promotion from his research job to associate professor of pharmacology.

— WSJ, "Arvid Carlsson, Snubbed at University in Sweden, Found a Path to Nobel Prize in Medicine," 13 July 2018
This week, California Judge Dolly Gee rejected the Trump administration's request to detain migrant children long-term.

— jane onyanga-omara, USA TODAY, "'Trump Baby' flies as protesters in UK galvanize against US president," 13 July 2018
Last November, the California Public Utilities Commission rejected a request from SDG&E to have ratepayers pick up the tab in $379 million in costs related to three deadly wildfires in 2007 that ripped through San Diego County.

— rob nikolewski, sandiegouniontribune.com, "SDG&E awards $1M to groups fighting wildfires," 12 July 2018
Leon rejected the government’s argument that the phone and pay-TV giant’s $81 billion takeover of the entertainment conglomerate would hurt competition, limit choices and jack up prices for consumers to stream TV and movies.

— marcy gordon, BostonGlobe.com, "Department of Justice appeals ruling that allowed AT&T-Time Warner merger," 12 July 2018
The Court of Special Appeals rejected the argument that questions over cellphone tower evidence justified a new trial, but accepted that Syed’s defense should have called McClain Chapman to the stand.

— talia richman, baltimoresun.com, "Maryland's highest court to weigh in on Syed case," 12 July 2018
But his fellow commissioners rejected the proposal.

— sven berg, idahostatesman, "Ada County drivers, you subsidize big trucks — even though they damage roads more.," 11 July 2018
In May, the board rejected Mayor Mark Farrell’s attempt to reappoint Marshall and another longtime police commissioner, Sonia Melara, by a 6-5 vote, despite having been previously approved by the Rules Committee.

— dominic fracassa, SFChronicle.com, "Joe Marshall gets another shot at SF Police Commission — needs supes’ OK," 10 July 2018
Three years ago, Gee rejected a similar effort by the Obama administration.

— elliot spagat, The Christian Science Monitor, "At least 54 immigrant children will be reunited with parents," 10 July 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

reject Synonyms

Phrases

turn one's back on;

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

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

In a nation obsessed with soccer, most of the 84 members are rejects from their school teams.

— matt blomberg, latimes.com, "There's a reason that the soccer team rescued from a cave in Thailand was so tough and resilient," 11 July 2018
Sometimes the fruit and vegetables aren’t aesthetic rejects.

— rick barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Produce that looks funny but tastes the same will be sold in Milwaukee at discounted prices," 15 June 2018
Here’s a list of five that impressed the judges — Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Mel B and Howie Mandel — enough to earn a trip to the next round, and a bonus reject.

— bill keveney, USA TODAY, "'America's Got Talent:' The 5 craziest auditions, plus that just-too-weird reject," 19 June 2018
The bag, which is a reject, is symbolic of the type of follow-through that has grown this tiny local golf bag company into world renowned provider of high-quality premium products.

— kirby adams, The Courier-Journal, "This small Louisville leather shop makes golf bags for the president," 31 May 2018
The Golden Knights like to see themselves as a bunch of rejects who carry a chip on their collective shoulders because they were discarded and doomed to the cruel fate of playing for an expansion team.

— helene elliott, latimes.com, "Vegas’ latest show-stopper puts the Golden Knights one win away from a berth in Stanley Cup Final," 19 May 2018
The four rejects who do the best will move back into the house.

— joey guerra, Houston Chronicle, "'America's Next Top Model' recap: Throwback tarantulas and salty models," 28 Mar. 2018
The house was quickly cast into the reject pile, as the couple resumed the search but found nothing.

— scott sowers, miamiherald, "Pulling together a split-level | Miami Herald," 8 Mar. 2018
Its rooms were piled with boxes of yard-sale rejects, random envelopes of family photos and other assorted flotsom and jetsom of memorabilia.

— lauren ritchie, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Howey mansion is '95 percent restored' by $600K investment over seven months," 2 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of reject

circa 1555

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

reject Synonyms

Synonyms

cull, discard, rejection, second;

Related Words

castaway, throwaway;

hand-me-down, white elephant;

rubbish, scrap, trash, waste;

REJECT Defined for English Language Learners

reject

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

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

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.