de·ny
Pronounced:
/dɪˈnaɪ/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
de·nies; de·nied; de·ny·ingMeaning:
[+ obj] 1 a : to say that something is not true ▪ He denied the report that he would be quitting his job. ▪ She denies all the charges that have been made against her. ▪ I don't deny that I have made some mistakes. [=I admit that I have made some mistakes] ▪ They are still denying (that) the problem exists. ▪ The police deny that racism is a problem in the department. ▪ Yes, I was there. I don't deny it. ▪ There's no denying [=it is clearly true] that he knows how to run a successful company. b : to refuse to accept or admit (something) ▪ You can't deny her beauty. = You can't deny that she is beautiful. ▪ She denied responsibility [=she said that she was not responsible] for the error.
2 : to refuse to give (something) to someone : to prevent someone from having or receiving (something) ▪ The banks denied [=refused] them credit. ▪ The judge denied their request. ▪ I don't want to deny them this pleasure. = I don't want to deny this pleasure to them. ▪ a government that denies its citizens basic freedoms —see also denied bail at 1bail
2 : to refuse to give (something) to someone : to prevent someone from having or receiving (something) ▪ The banks denied [=refused] them credit. ▪ The judge denied their request. ▪ I don't want to deny them this pleasure. = I don't want to deny this pleasure to them. ▪ a government that denies its citizens basic freedoms —see also denied bail at 1bail
deny yourself
: to not allow yourself to enjoy things or to have the things that you want ▪ On this diet, I don't feel like I'm denying myself. ▪ I'm not denying myself the foods that I love, I'm just eating smaller amounts. ▪ He's always denied himself the simple pleasures in life.