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   decline

   /dɪˈklʌɪn/

   verb

   • 1. (typically of something regarded as good) become smaller, fewer, or less; decrease: "the birth rate continued to decline" Similar decreasereduceget smallergrow smallerlessenget lessdiminishwanedwindlecontractshrinkfall offtaper offtail offpeter outdropfallgo downsinkslumpplummetplungefall off a cliffinformal:nosedivetake a nosedivetake a headergo into a tailspincrashOpposite increase
   • ▪ diminish in strength or quality; deteriorate: "her health began to decline" Similar deterioratedegeneratedecaycrumblecollapsefailfallsinkslumpslipslidego downhillworsenget worsego to rack and ruinstagnateatrophywitherweakenfadefade awaywaneebbbe abandonedbe neglectedbe disregardedbe forgotteninformal:go to potgo to the dogshit the skidsgo down the toiletgo down the tubesgo to the packrare:retrogradeOpposite flourish
   • 2. politely refuse (an invitation or offer): "Caroline declined the coffee" Similar turn downrejectbrush asiderefuserebuffspurndisdainlook down one's nose atrepulserepudiatedismissforgodeny oneselfpass uprefuse to take advantage ofturn one's back onabstain (from)say no toshake one's headsend one's regretsinformal:give the thumbs down (to)give the red light (to)give something a missgive someone the brush-offknock backsnoutOpposite accept
   • 3. (especially of the sun) move downwards: "the sun began to creep round to the west and to decline"
   • ▪ bend down; droop: archaic "the wearisome creatures of the world declining to their rest"
   • 4. (in the grammar of Latin, Greek, and certain other languages) state the forms of (a noun, pronoun, or adjective) corresponding to case, number, and gender.

   noun

   • 1. a gradual and continuous loss of strength, numbers, quality, or value: "a serious decline in bird numbers" Similar reductiondecreasedownturndownswingloweringdevaluationdepreciationlesseningdiminishingdiminutionslackeningwaningdwindlingfadingebbfalling offabatementdropslumpplungetumbledowntickinformal:nosedivecrashlet-updeteriorationdegenerationdegradationshrinkageshrinkingwitheringatrophyweakeningenfeeblementfallfailuredeathdecaydecayingdated:decadencerare:devolutionOpposite increase
   • ▪ the sun's gradual setting: "this Evening from the Sun's decline arriv'd"
   • ▪ a disease in which the bodily strength gradually fails, especially tuberculosis: "he died at his brother's of a deep decline"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French decliner, from Latin declinare ‘bend down, turn aside’, from de- ‘down’ + clinare ‘to bend’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. declinable adjective
   • 2. decliner noun

   Scrabble Points: 10

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   • L

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   • I

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   • N

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2. People also ask

   What does decline mean in English?

   • ...a declining birth rate. [VERB -ing] If you decline something or decline to do something, you politely refuse to accept it or do it. He declined their invitation. [VERB noun] The band declined to comment on the story. [VERB to-infinitive] He offered the boys some coffee. They declined politely. [VERB]

   DECLINE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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   What is the difference between decline and incline?

   • The verb decline means refuse to accept, but the noun decline means a downward slope (the opposite of an incline), or a decrease in quality. At the gym, the treadmill has an incline button to control how steep your climb is. Sadly, there's no button for decline, which would be much easier. Both words contain cline, or "to bend."

   Decline - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

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   What is the difference between decline and refuse?

   • decline, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn mean to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering. decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations. refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

   Decline Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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   What happens if something declines?

   • If something declines, it becomes less in quantity, importance, or strength. The number of staff has declined from 217,000 to 114,000. [VERB + from] Hourly output by workers declined 1.3% in the first quarter. [VERB amount] Union membership and union power are declining fast. [VERB] ...a declining birth rate. [VERB -ing]

   DECLINE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/decline

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3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishDECLINE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   Learn the meaning of decline as a verb, noun, and grammar term, with synonyms, antonyms, and idioms. See how to use decline in different contexts, such as business, economy, health, and language.

4. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › declineDecline Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › decline

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   Learn the various meanings and uses of the word decline as a verb and a noun, with synonyms, examples, and word history. See also related phrases and entries near decline.

5. www.dictionary.com › browse › declineDECLINE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   Decline can mean to refuse, to slope downward, to deteriorate, or to inflect a word. Learn the different meanings, synonyms, and usage examples of decline from Dictionary.com.

6. Videos

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     DECLINE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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7. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › declineDecline - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › decline

   The verb decline means refuse to accept, but the noun decline means a downward slope (the opposite of an incline), or a decrease in quality. At the gym, the treadmill has an incline button to control how steep your climb is. Sadly, there's no button for decline, which would be much easier.

8. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishDECLINE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   If you decline something or decline to do something, you politely refuse to accept it or do it.

9. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitiondecline verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage ...

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation and grammar of the verb decline in English. See examples of how to use decline in different contexts, such as becoming smaller, refusing or changing form.

10. dictionary.cambridge.org › english › declineDECLINE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › english › decline

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    Sep 2, 2014 · Learn the meaning of decline as a verb and a noun, with usage examples and synonyms. Find out how to use decline in different contexts, such as grammar, business, and idiom.