ENGLISH
REFERENCE

deny

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //dɪˈnaɪ// UK //dɪnˈaɪ// de·ny Academic Archaic General-service

v. to say that something is not true. You also use it when you refuse to give someone something they want or need.

v. to declare a statement to be untrue; to refuse to grant a request or access to a resource. Transitive — requires a direct object or a 'that' clause.


SIMPLE

He denies stealing the money from the office.

CONTEXTUAL

The government continues to deny the request for more funding despite the growing public pressure.

COMPLEX

While the suspect did not deny being at the scene of the crime, he maintained that his presence there was entirely coincidental and unrelated to the theft.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

When followed by another action, use the -ing form (gerund) rather than the infinitive.

Pitfall

He denied to see her.He denied seeing her.When followed by a verb, deny takes the -ing form, not the 'to' infinitive.

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