reject a proposal

USAGE SUMMARY

"reject a proposal" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to declining an offer made by another party. For example, "The board of directors voted to reject the proposal from the potential investors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The Dictator Game is similar to the Ultimatum Game, except that in this case the Responder cannot reject a proposal and must accept whatever the Proposer gives them.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

The owners can accept or reject a proposal or enact a rule change not proposed or recommended by the committee.

The Washington Post

That board would have the authority to reject a proposal, and the local authority could override rejection only with a majority-plus-one vote, or four of five on most local zoning boards instead of the present three of five.

The New York Times

Nearly 70 percent of the shares were voted to reject a proposal for an independent chairman.

The New York Times

The euro slipped against the dollar as voters in Denmark appeared to reject a proposal to adopt the currency.

The New York Times

In addition, he did not reject a proposal that foreign journalists be given accreditation to cover the war, she said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

Voters rejected a proposal to issue $185 million in stadium bonds.

The New York Times - Sports

The Senate rejected a proposal to adopt that language.

The New York Times

Swedes rejected a proposal to join in a referendum in 2003.

The Economist

Test captains have universally rejected a proposal to play tight matches to a finish under floodlights.

Independent

In April the Northern Irish Assembly rejected a proposal for the legalisation of equal marriage.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "reject a proposal", clearly state the reasons for the rejection to maintain transparency and avoid misunderstandings. Justify your decision.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that you "reject a proposal" without providing any reasoning. This can be perceived as dismissive and unhelpful. Always offer constructive feedback or justification.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reject a proposal" functions as a verb phrase where "reject" is the transitive verb and "a proposal" is the direct object. It indicates the act of refusing to accept or agree to a presented suggestion or plan, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reject a proposal" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to indicate the refusal of a suggested plan or offer. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and identifies various real-world examples across News & Media and Science. Related phrases include "decline an offer" and "turn down a suggestion". When using the phrase, clarity is key: always provide reasons for the rejection to avoid ambiguity and ensure transparency. While the expression is versatile and can be used in diverse contexts, it is essential to avoid vague statements and provide constructive feedback. Overall, "reject a proposal" is a straightforward way to express refusal in various settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

decline an offer

Focuses on refusing an offer, which is a type of proposal.

turn down a suggestion

Emphasizes refusing a suggestion, a milder form of a proposal.

veto a plan

Suggests a more formal or authoritative rejection.

dismiss an idea

Highlights the act of disregarding or discarding an idea.

kill a project

Implies a complete and final end to a proposed project.

shelve a proposition

Indicates putting a proposal aside, possibly temporarily or permanently.

rebuff an initiative

Suggests a blunt or abrupt rejection of an initiative.

deem unacceptable a proposition

More formal way of saying something is not satisfactory and therefore rejecting it.

refuse to consider an option

Focuses on the unwillingness to even think about a proposal.

give a thumbs down to a submission

An informal way to describe the act of denying approval of a submission.

FAQs

How can I use "reject a proposal" in a sentence?

You can use "reject a proposal" when you want to express the act of refusing a plan, suggestion or offer. For example, "The committee decided to reject a proposal due to budget constraints."

What are some alternatives to saying "reject a proposal"?

Alternatives include "decline an offer", "turn down a suggestion", or "veto a plan", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "reject a proposal" or "decline a proposal"?

Both "reject a proposal" and "decline a proposal" are correct and commonly used. "Reject" can sometimes imply a stronger disapproval than "decline", but the difference is often negligible.

What's the difference between "reject a proposal" and "revise a proposal"?

"Reject a proposal" means to refuse to accept the proposal, while "revise a proposal" means to modify or improve it. They have opposite meanings; one means refusal, the other means alteration and further consideration.