denied

/dɪˈnaɪ/ (bre, ipa) · [dɪnˈaɪd] /dɪˈnaɪ/ (ame, ipa)

denied — verb

  • deniedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • denieds3rd person singular
  • denieding-ing form
  • deniededpast simple

1. to state that a claim, story, or accusation is false

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to state that a claim, story, or accusation is false

例句

Tunde denied the rumor about the school closing after the fire.

denied + noun phrase for rejecting a rumor

The minister denied any plan to raise train fares this summer.

同義詞
  • reject

    broader and often used for offers or ideas, not only for saying a statement is false

  • dispute

    more formal and often used when facts or claims are argued about

  • refute

    more formal and usually suggests answering with proof

反義詞
  • admit

    opposite meaning when someone accepts that a statement is true

  • confirm

    opposite meaning when someone says a report or claim is correct

文法句型

denied + noun phrase

denied that + clause

用法筆記

Usually used when someone answers an accusation, report, or public statement. A that-clause is common when the speaker rejects a full idea rather than a short noun phrase.

常見錯誤

❌She denied to break the vase.
✅She denied breaking the vase.
💡'deny' is followed by a gerund, not a to-infinitive.
❌He denied the story was true.
✅He denied that the story was true.
💡When a full clause follows, 'that' makes the pattern clear and natural.

2. to refuse a person, request, or group the thing they wanted

2.動詞及物B1
釋義

to refuse a person, request, or group the thing they wanted

例句

The guard denied Jason entry because his pass had expired.

denied someone entry

Officials denied farmers access to the road during repairs.

denied access to + noun

同義詞
  • refuse

    general everyday verb for saying no to a request or demand

  • withhold

    suggests keeping something back rather than simply saying no

  • bar

    stronger and often used for keeping someone out of a place

反義詞
  • grant

    opposite meaning when a request or permission is given

  • allow

    opposite meaning when someone is permitted to do something

文法句型

denied someone entry

denied access to + noun

denied someone permission to + verb

denied a request

用法筆記

Common with nouns such as entry, access, permission, aid, and request. The focus is on keeping someone from getting something, not on arguing about whether it is true.

常見錯誤

❌The guard denied me from entering.
✅The guard denied me entry.
💡'deny' takes the thing refused directly, not 'from' before a gerund here.
❌The bank denied to us a loan.
✅The bank denied us a loan.
💡Put the person after 'deny' before the thing refused.

3. to say that you were not responsible, aware, or involved

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to say that you were not responsible, aware, or involved

例句

Rodrigo denied knowing anything about the missing cash box.

denied + gerund

The driver denied responsibility for the damage to the gate.

denied responsibility for + noun

同義詞
  • disclaim

    more formal and often used for rejecting responsibility or ownership

  • disavow

    formal verb for refusing to admit support or connection

  • reject

    broader and less focused on admitting personal involvement

反義詞
  • admit

    opposite meaning when someone accepts blame, knowledge, or a feeling

  • acknowledge

    opposite meaning when someone openly accepts a fact or role

文法句型

denied doing something

denied responsibility

denied knowledge of + noun

用法筆記

Often used when someone rejects blame, knowledge, or a private feeling. A gerund is especially common after deny when the speaker says an action did not happen.

常見錯誤

❌She denied to know the witness.
✅She denied knowing the witness.
💡'deny' is followed by a gerund, not a to-infinitive.
❌He denied about the mistake.
✅He denied the mistake.
💡'deny' takes the fact directly without 'about'.

4. to refuse to accept a fact, need, or problem as real or important

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

to refuse to accept a fact, need, or problem as real or important

例句

Yuki denied the seriousness of the cough and kept working.

denied the seriousness of + noun

Many residents denied the risk of flooding until the river rose.

denied the risk of + noun

同義詞
  • ignore

    can mean failing to notice or deal with something, not necessarily refusing to accept it as real

  • dismiss

    suggests treating a warning or problem as unimportant

  • reject

    broader and less tied to facts that remain true despite objection

反義詞
  • accept

    opposite meaning when someone faces a fact or problem as real

  • recognize

    opposite meaning when someone notices and admits what is true

文法句型

denied the risk of + noun

denied the seriousness of + noun

denied that + clause

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1, this sense can describe an attitude that continues even when clear evidence exists. It often appears with facts, risks, illness, debt, or emotional needs that a person does not want to face.

5. to keep yourself from a pleasure, comfort, or useful thing

5.動詞及物C1
釋義

to keep yourself from a pleasure, comfort, or useful thing

例句

Yael denied herself dessert while training for the marathon.

denied oneself + noun phrase

During the drought, families denied themselves long showers to save water.

同義詞
  • forgo

    formal verb for choosing not to have something

  • give up

    more everyday and often less formal in tone

  • abstain from

    used especially for deliberate self-control, often in formal contexts

反義詞
  • indulge

    opposite meaning when someone allows themselves a pleasure

  • enjoy

    opposite meaning when someone takes the thing instead of going without it

文法句型

denied oneself + noun phrase

用法筆記

Almost always appears with a reflexive object such as himself, herself, or themselves. It is more formal than simple everyday choices like skip or go without.

常見錯誤

❌He denied himself from coffee.
✅He denied himself coffee.
💡This pattern takes the thing directly, without 'from'.

6. to insist that you have no link with someone or something

6.動詞及物C1
釋義

to insist that you have no link with someone or something

例句

Christopher denied any link to the fake charity website.

denied any link to + noun

The singer denied being part of the leaked group chat.

denied being part of + noun

同義詞
  • disavow

    formal verb for publicly rejecting a link, statement, or supporter

  • distance oneself from

    suggests trying to appear separate, even if some connection once existed

  • repudiate

    formal and strong, often used for ideas, debt, or official ties

反義詞
  • acknowledge

    opposite meaning when someone openly accepts a connection

  • claim

    opposite meaning when someone says a relationship or role belongs to them

文法句型

denied any link to + noun

denied being part of + noun

denied ties to + noun

用法筆記

Narrower than sense 4 because it focuses on relationships, membership, or support rather than blame in general. It is common in news reports about politics, business, and public scandal.