- 1 to say that something is not true deny something to deny a claim/a charge/an accusation The spokesman refused either to confirm or deny the reports. deny (that)… She denied (that) there had been any cover-up. There’s no denying (the fact) that quicker action could have saved them. it is denied that… It can't be denied that we need to devote more resources to this problem. deny doing something He denies attempting to murder his wife. More Like This Verbs usually followed by -ing forms avoid, consider, delay, deny, enjoy, escape, finish, give up, imagine, involve, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practise, resist, risk, suggestSee worksheet. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbadamantly, emphatically, fiercely, … verb + denycannot, try to phrasesno one could deny (that)…, no one would deny (that)…, there is no denying something, … See full entry
- 2 deny something to refuse to admit or accept something She denied all knowledge of the incident. The department denies responsibility for what occurred. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbadamantly, emphatically, fiercely, … verb + denycannot, try to phrasesno one could deny (that)…, no one would deny (that)…, there is no denying something, … See full entry
- 3(formal) to refuse to allow somebody to have something that they want or ask for deny somebody something They were denied access to the information. deny something to somebody Access to the information was denied to them. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbcruelly, effectively, routinely, … prepositionto See full entry
- 4deny yourself (something) (formal) to refuse to let yourself have something that you would like to have, especially for moral or religious reasons Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French deni-, stressed stem of deneier, from Latin denegare, from de- ‘formally’ + negare ‘say no’.Word Familydeny verbdenial nounundeniable adjectiveundeniably adverbExtra examples Children could be compelled to work on the farm, effectively denying them schooling. He has categorically denied being involved in the fraud. He has consistently denied murdering his estranged wife. I know it was you I saw, so there’s no use trying to deny it. If anyone accuses me I shall simply deny it. No one would deny that there is a very great need for change. The country’s government systematically denies its citizens basic rights to free expression. There is no denying the fact that she is an excellent scholar. They were cruelly denied victory by a header from Reece. They were cruelly denied victory by an injury-time strike from Owen. You can’t deny that it seems a very attractive idea. You cannot deny this opportunity to me. He denied accusations of corruption and mismanagement. It can’t be denied that we need to devote more resources to this problem. She denied that there had been any cover-up. There’s no denying the fact that quicker action could have saved them.
verb jump to other results
BrE BrE//dɪˈnaɪ//; NAmE NAmE//dɪˈnaɪ//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they deny BrE BrE//dɪˈnaɪ//; NAmE NAmE//dɪˈnaɪ//
he / she / it denies BrE BrE//dɪˈnaɪz//; NAmE NAmE//dɪˈnaɪz//
past simple denied BrE BrE//dɪˈnaɪd//; NAmE NAmE//dɪˈnaɪd//
past participle denied BrE BrE//dɪˈnaɪd//; NAmE NAmE//dɪˈnaɪd//
-ing form denying BrE BrE//dɪˈnaɪɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//dɪˈnaɪɪŋ//
Check pronunciation: deny
