deny

/dɪˈnaɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈnaɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈnī dē-/ (ame, mw)

deny — 動詞

  • denypresent simple I / you / we / they
  • denieshe / she / it
  • deniedpast simple
  • denying-ing form

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

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

否認

聲明某事不屬實

to state that a statement, accusation, or claim is false or incorrect

例句

The politician denied taking any money from the construction company, but the receipts told a different story.

那名政治人物否認從建築公司收取任何款項，但收據卻說明了不同的故事。

deny + gerund (-ing form)

Mira denied the accusation that she had copied answers from a classmate during the exam.

Mira 否認了她在考試期間抄襲同學答案的指控。

deny + noun phrase (accusation)

同義詞
  • contradict

    focuses on saying the opposite; less formal and less emphatic than 'deny'

  • refute

    more formal; implies providing proof that a claim is wrong, not just stating it is wrong

  • rebut

    formal, used especially in legal or debate contexts; to offer counter-evidence

反義詞
  • admit

    to accept that something is true

  • acknowledge

    to accept or admit the existence or truth of something

文法句型

deny + noun phrase (deny the allegations)

deny + that-clause (deny that something happened)

deny + -ing form (deny doing something)

用法筆記

Frequently used with legal or formal objects: 'allegations,' 'charges,' 'accusations,' 'claims.' The gerund pattern ('deny + -ing') is more common than the that-clause pattern in everyday speech.

常見錯誤

❌He denied to steal the money.
✅He denied stealing the money.
💡'deny' is followed by a gerund (-ing form), not a to-infinitive.
❌She denied the truth.
✅She denied that it was true.
💡'deny the truth' can sound odd; use 'deny that…' or 'deny a claim/accusation' with a specific object.

2. a fixed expression used to emphasise that a fact is so clear or certain that nob

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

無可否認

強調某事實清楚無疑

a fixed expression used to emphasise that a fact is so clear or certain that nobody can argue against it

例句

There is no denying that the team played much better after the new coach took over.

無可否認，在新教練接手之後，球隊的表現好多了。

there is no denying + that-clause

There is no denying the importance of learning basic phrases in the local language when you travel.

無可否認，旅行時學習一些當地語言的基本詞彙非常重要。

there is no denying + noun phrase

同義詞
  • undoubtedly

    adverb, used to express the same certainty; 'There is undoubtedly a problem'

  • without question

    phrase with the same emphatic certainty; more formal

文法句型

there is no denying + noun phrase (there is no denying the fact)

there is no denying + that-clause (there is no denying that…)

用法筆記

This is a fixed idiom. 'There is no denying' cannot be conjugated for person or tense (❌ 'There was no denying' is acceptable in past tense, but ❌ 'He denies no denying' is not). The structure is always 'there is/was no denying + noun/that-clause.'

3. to prevent someone from receiving something they want, need, or have asked for

3.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

拒絕給予

不讓某人擁有所需或所求的事物

to prevent someone from receiving something they want, need, or have asked for

例句

The school principal denied the students permission to leave early on the last day of term.

校長拒絕讓學生在學期最後一天提早離開。

deny + someone + something (ditransitive)

The landlord denied Bilal access to his own apartment until the overdue rent was paid in full.

房東拒絕讓 Bilal 進入自己的公寓，直到逾期租金全額付清為止。

deny + someone + something

同義詞
  • refuse

    similar meaning but 'refuse' pairs with an infinitive ('refuse to let someone have'); 'deny' pairs with a noun object

  • withhold

    more formal; implies deliberately keeping something that someone has a right to

  • block

    less formal; implies actively preventing something from happening

反義詞
  • grant

    to give or allow someone what they have asked for

  • allow

    to let someone have or do something

文法句型

deny + someone + something (deny the children a treat)

deny + something + to + someone (deny access to visitors)

be denied + something (passive)

用法筆記

The ditransitive pattern ('deny + person + thing') is the most common. The passive construction ('be denied + thing') is frequent in formal and journalistic writing. The object can be an abstract thing ('access,' 'rights,' 'opportunity') or a concrete one ('food,' 'entry,' 'funds').

常見錯誤

❌They denied him to enter the building.
✅They denied him entry to the building.' or 'They refused to let him enter the building.
💡'deny' takes a noun object (entry/access/permission), not a to-infinitive clause.
❌The visa was denied to him.
✅He was denied a visa.
💡the passive with the person as subject is more natural in English.

4. to refuse to acknowledge that you know about something, are responsible for some

4.動詞及物B2
釋義

不承認

不願承認知道、負責或有某種感受

to refuse to acknowledge that you know about something, are responsible for something, or experience a particular feeling or emotion

例句

Even with CCTV footage showing him near the scene, Tamás denied any responsibility for the accident.

儘管監視器畫面顯示他曾在案發現場附近出現，Tamás 仍不承認對這場事故負有任何責任。

deny + noun phrase (responsibility)

Lisa denied feeling nervous during the job interview, but the sweat on her forehead told the truth.

Lisa 不承認在工作面試時感到緊張，但她額頭上的汗水說出了真相。

deny + gerund (-ing form for feelings)

同義詞
  • disclaim

    very formal; used in legal contexts to deny responsibility or knowledge

  • disavow

    formal; to state that you are not connected to or responsible for something

  • repress

    used for feelings; to unconsciously push an emotion out of awareness

反義詞
  • admit

    to confess or accept the truth of something, especially something negative

  • own up to

    informal phrasal verb meaning to admit responsibility

文法句型

deny + noun phrase (deny responsibility)

deny + -ing form (deny knowing)

deny + that-clause (deny that one cares)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 denies the truth of an external statement or accusation, whereas sense 4 denies an internal state (knowledge, responsibility, feelings). Common objects include 'any knowledge,' 'any involvement,' 'all responsibility,' and emotion words like 'feeling hurt,' 'being afraid,' 'caring.'

常見錯誤

❌He denied to be responsible.
✅He denied being responsible.' or 'He denied that he was responsible.
💡'deny' must be followed by a gerund or that-clause, not a to-infinitive.

5. to voluntarily refrain from giving yourself something you want, often for reason

5.動詞及物C1
釋義

克制；節制

不讓自己擁有想望的事物

to voluntarily refrain from giving yourself something you want, often for reasons of discipline, faith, health, or principle

例句

Wren denied herself the pleasure of dessert for the entire month while training for the marathon.

Wren 在訓練馬拉松的那整個月裡克制自己不吃甜點。

deny + oneself + something (pleasure)

The monks deny themselves all material comforts as part of their religious practice and spiritual discipline.

那些僧侶基於宗教修行而克制自己，不要任何物質享受。

deny + oneself + something (material comforts)

同義詞
  • deprive oneself of

    slightly different connotation; 'deprive' suggests someone else is responsible, while 'deny oneself' is always voluntary

  • forgo

    to choose not to have or do something; slightly formal

  • abstain from

    to refrain from something enjoyable, especially food, drink, or a habit

反義詞

文法句型

deny + oneself + something (deny herself dessert)

deny + oneself + the opportunity/pleasure/chance to do something

用法筆記

Always reflexive: the direct object is a form of 'oneself' (myself, yourself, herself, etc.). This sense appears most often in discussions of self-discipline, religious fasting, dieting, and saving money. The pattern 'deny + oneself + the + opportunity/pleasure/chance + to-infinitive' is especially common in formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌He denied to eat chocolate.
✅He denied himself chocolate.
💡the reflexive pronoun is required; without it, the sentence means he said the chocolate wasn't there (sense 1).

6. to state or act as if you are not connected to a person, group, nation, or set o

6.動詞及物C1
釋義

斷絕關係

拒絕承認與某人/事/信念有關聯

to state or act as if you are not connected to a person, group, nation, or set of beliefs, especially when acknowledging that connection would bring difficulty, danger, or shame

例句

After the scandal destroyed their reputation, the executive denied any connection with his former business partner.

在醜聞摧毀他們的聲譽之後，那名主管否認與前商業夥伴有任何關係。

deny + connection + with + someone

According to the gospel accounts, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times on the night of the arrest.

根據福音書的記載，彼得在耶穌被捕的那天夜裡三次否認認識耶穌。

deny + gerund (-ing form) for personal connection

同義詞
  • disown

    stronger emotional charge; specifically about rejecting family or close connections

  • renounce

    formal; to formally give up a belief, title, or claim

  • repudiate

    very formal; to refuse to accept or be associated with someone or something

反義詞
  • acknowledge

    to accept or admit that someone is part of your life or identity

  • claim

    to state that you belong to or support a person, group, or belief

文法句型

deny + noun phrase (deny one's faith / faith / family / country)

deny + -ing form (deny knowing someone)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 4: sense 4 is about denying internal states (knowledge, responsibility, feelings), whereas sense 6 is about denying an external connection (family, religion, country, a person). The object in sense 6 is always a person, group, or set of beliefs that the subject is expected to be loyal to. Historically the most famous use is 'denying one's faith' in religious persecution contexts.

常見錯誤

❌He denied his family members to help them.
✅He denied his family.
💡when the object is a person or group, the meaning is 'to disown/abandon,' not 'to refuse to help.' Avoid adding extra verbs after the object.