decline

[ dih-klahyn ]

verb (used with object)

, de·clined, de·clin·ing.

1. to withhold or deny consent to do, enter into or upon, etc.; refuse:

   He declined to say more about it.

   Synonyms: reject

2. to express inability or reluctance to accept; refuse with courtesy:

   to decline an invitation; to decline an offer.

3. to cause to slope or incline downward.
4. Grammar.
   1. to inflect (a noun, pronoun, or adjective), as Latin puella, declined puella, puellae, puellae, puellam, puella in the five cases of the singular.
   2. to recite or display all or some subset of the inflected forms of a noun, pronoun, or adjective in a fixed order.

verb (used without object)

, de·clined, de·clin·ing.

1. to express courteous refusal; refuse:

   We sent him an invitation but he declined.

2. to bend or slant down; slope downward; descend:

   The hill declines to the lake.

   Antonyms: rise

3. (of pathways, routes, objects, etc.) to follow a downward course or path:

   The sun declined in the skies.

4. to draw toward the close, as the day.
5. to fail in strength, vigor, character, value, etc.; deteriorate.

   Synonyms: languish, diminish, weaken, decay, degenerate

   Antonyms: improve

6. to fail or dwindle; sink or fade away:

   to decline in popularity.

7. to descend, as to an unworthy level; stoop.
8. Grammar. to be characterized by declension.

noun

1. a downward slope; declivity.

   Synonyms: hill

2. a downward movement, as of prices or population; diminution:

   a decline in the stock market.

3. a failing or gradual loss, as in strength, character, power, or value; deterioration:

   the decline of the Roman Empire.

   Synonyms: enfeeblement, degeneration, retrogression

4. a gradual deterioration of the physical powers, as in later life or in disease:

   After his seventieth birthday he went into a decline.

5. progress downward or toward the close, as of the sun or the day.
6. the later years or last part:

   He became an editor in the decline of his life.

decline

/ dɪˈklaɪn /

verb

1. to refuse to do or accept (something), esp politely
2. intr to grow smaller; diminish

   demand has declined over the years

3. to slope or cause to slope downwards
4. intr to deteriorate gradually, as in quality, health, or character
5. grammar to state or list the inflections of (a noun, adjective, or pronoun), or (of a noun, adjective, or pronoun) to be inflected for number, case, or gender Compare conjugate

noun

1. gradual deterioration or loss
2. a movement downwards or towards something smaller; diminution
3. a downward slope; declivity
4. archaic.
   any slowly progressive disease, such as tuberculosis

Derived Forms

• deˈclinable, adjective
• deˈcliner, noun

Other Words From

• de·cliner noun
• prede·cline verb (used with object) predeclined predeclining
• rede·cline verb redeclined redeclining noun
• unde·clined adjective
• unde·clining adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of decline¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; (verb) Middle English declinen, from Old French: “to inflect, turn aside, sink,” from Latin dēclīnāre “to slope, incline, bend”; compare Greek klī́nein “to lean” ( lean ¹ ); (noun) Middle English declin, from Old French, derivative of decliner

Word History and Origins

Origin of decline¹

C14: from Old French decliner to inflect, turn away, sink, from Latin dēclīnāre to bend away, inflect grammatically

Synonym Study

See refuse ¹.

Example Sentences

But when it came to areas with higher-than-average Hispanic populations, facilities still saw a decline in positive ratings, though the dips were not as pronounced.

From Science Daily

Given the recent steady decline in birth rate in Sweden, the researchers propose monitoring in antenatal care to address the problem.

From Science Daily

For example, this supernova had a period of brightness that stayed steady for about 20 days before declining, whereas the brightness of its metal-rich counterparts usually lasted for about 100 days.

From Science Daily

A spokesperson for Newsom declined to answer questions on the case.

From Los Angeles Times

Migrant arrivals had been steadily declining since August 2023, but increased again since summer, according to data from United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR.

From BBC

Related Words

• decrease
• dip
• downturn
• drop
• drop-off
• loss
• slide
• slump