English Reference

Word

reject

Phoneticsre·ject, stress on the first syllable

/ˈɹidʒɛkt/

Definitions

01to refuse to accept

B1 · Intermediate

v. to refuse to accept, use, or believe something.

v. to refuse to accept, acknowledge, or use something; often used in formal or academic contexts regarding theories or applications.

“The committee decided to reject the proposal because it was too expensive.”

“The journal editors chose to reject the manuscript on the grounds that the methodology did not meet their rigorous peer-review standards.”

Usage

Transitive verb taking a direct object.

Antonyms

02to refuse a person

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to refuse a person's romantic interest or a job applicant.

v. to rebuff a person's advances or to deny an applicant a position or place.

“It can be very painful when someone you like rejects you.”

“After three rounds of intensive interviews, the firm ultimately decided to reject his application in favour of a more experienced candidate.”

Synonyms

rebuffspurnturn down

Antonyms

03to block a shot

B2 · Upper Intermediate Sports Informal

v. to block an opponent's shot in a game like basketball.

v. to block an opponent's shot, typically sending the ball away from the basket or off the court.

“The tall defender managed to reject the shot just before it reached the hoop.”

“The centre leaped high to reject the layup, sending the ball deep into the third row of the stands.”

Synonyms

04defective item

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a product that is not good enough to be sold.

n. an item that has been discarded or set aside because it does not meet quality standards.

“The factory sells its rejects at a much lower price in the outlet store.”

“Quality control identified several rejects in the latest batch due to minor surface imperfections in the plastic casing.”

Synonyms

discardfaulty good

05unpopular person

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · Slang

n. a person who is not accepted by a social group.

n. a person who is excluded from a social group or society; often used as a derogatory label.

“In many teen movies, the main characters start out as social rejects.”

“He spent his high school years feeling like a total reject before finding a community of like-minded artists in college.”

Teaching tip

This can be offensive or hurtful; learners should use it with caution when referring to people.

Synonyms

06aborted takeoff

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Aviation Technical

n. the act of stopping a plane from taking off after it has already started moving.

n. the discontinuation of a takeoff roll by the flight crew due to a perceived safety issue.

“The pilot performed a high-speed reject after a warning light appeared on the dashboard.”

“The captain initiated a reject at eighty knots following a sudden loss of pressure in the number two engine.”

Usage

Often used in the phrase 'rejected takeoff' or as a noun in technical reports.

Synonyms

aborted takeoff

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “reject” in context.

Verb

01. body reject

“There is always a risk that the patient's body will reject the new organ.”

noun + verb

Noun

02. flatly reject

“The company flatly rejected the union's proposal for a shorter work week.”

adv + verb

03. grounds to reject

“The judge found no legal grounds to reject the evidence.”

noun + prep + verb

04. outright reject

“The committee decided to outright reject the application due to missing documents.”

adv + verb

05. overwhelmingly reject

“Voters overwhelmingly rejected the proposed changes to the constitution.”

adv + verb

06. reject application

“I am sorry to inform you that we have decided to reject your application.”

verb + noun

07. reject claim

“The insurance company rejected his claim for the stolen car.”

verb + noun

08. reject notion

“Most scientists reject the notion that the earth is flat.”

verb + noun

09. reject offer

“He chose to reject the job offer because the salary was too low.”

verb + noun

10. firmly reject any suggestion

“The spokesperson firmly rejected any suggestion that the minister had lied.”

11. reject on the basis of

“The candidate was rejected on the basis of their lack of experience.”

12. reject out of hand

“The suggestion was rejected out of hand without any further discussion.”

Etymology

From Late Middle English rejecten, from Latin reiectus, past participle of reicere (“to throw back”), from re- (“back”) + iacere (“to throw”). Displaced native Old English āweorpan (literally “to throw out”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

VERB

reject(B1)

Domain

Aviation

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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