Cool MateDismiss vs Turn them down
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Dismiss
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Turn them down
Top 2,000 (common)
| Dismiss | Turn them down | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪsˈmɪs/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪz/","/dɪsˈmɪst/","/dɪsˈmɪsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //tɜrn ðɛm daʊn//🇺🇸 //tɜrn ðɛm daʊn// |
| Meaning | To let someone or something go or not consider it. | To refuse someone's offer or request. |
| Example | The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. | She decided to turn them down because the offer wasn't right for her. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | quickly, immediately, out of hand, be unable to, cannot, not be possible to, as, from, fairly, unfairly, wrongfully, from | turn down an offer, turn down a request, turn down an invitation, turn down help, turn down a job |
| Antonyms | embrace, welcome, accept | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'dismiss' without an object (e.g., saying 'I dismiss' instead of 'I dismiss the idea'), Confusing with 'miss' (to fail to notice or understand), Overusing in casual speech where 'ignore' may be more appropriate | Saying 'turn down them' instead of 'turn them down'., Confusing with 'turn up', which means to increase or arrive unexpectedly., Using it when you are accepting an offer. |
| Usage notes | Use 'dismiss' when you want to indicate that something is not worth consideration. It's neutral and should be avoided in very formal writing. | Used in both informal and formal settings. Often used in situations involving offers, invitations, or requests. Avoid using in overly formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Dismiss vs Turn them down
What's the difference between Dismiss and Turn them down?
Dismiss: To let someone or something go or not consider it. Turn them down: To refuse someone's offer or request.
Can you show an example of each?
Dismiss: The teacher decided to dismiss the class early today. Turn them down: She decided to turn them down because the offer wasn't right for her.
Can I use Dismiss and Turn them down interchangeably?
Not always. Dismiss and Turn them down are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.