Decline meaning

dĭ-klīn'

Decline is defined as to refuse something, slope downward, become less or to sink from view.

An example of decline is someone saying no when they've been asked out to dinner.

An example of decline is a ski run.

An example of decline is the unemployment rate going from 9% to 7.5%.

An example of decline is the sun setting in the West.

verb

The definition of a decline is a lessening or failing.

An example of decline is the collapse of the Roman Empire.

An example of decline is the quality of a glass of milk as it starts to sour over time.

An example of decline is the failing health of someone with cancer.

noun

To express polite refusal.

I wanted to invite them but I was afraid they would decline.

verb

To degrade or lower oneself; stoop.

Refused to decline to their level of behavior.

verb

To deteriorate gradually; fail.

His health has been declining for years.

verb

To slope downward; descend.

The roof declines at a steep angle.

verb

To bend downward; droop.

Boughs declining toward the ground.

verb

To sink, as the setting sun.

verb

To draw to a gradual close.

We made our way home as the day declined.

verb

To refuse politely.

I declined their offer of help.

verb

To cause to slope or bend downward.

verb

To inflect (a noun, a pronoun, or an adjective) for number and case.

verb

The process or result of declining, especially:

A gradual deterioration, as in numbers, activity, or quality.
A downward movement or fall, as in price.
A deterioration of health.

The patient's rapid decline.

noun

A downward slope; a declivity.

The sharp decline of the dunes to the sea.

noun

To bend, turn, or slope downward or aside.

verb

To lessen in force, health, value, etc.; deteriorate; decay.

verb

To descend to behavior that is base or immoral.

verb

To refuse to accept or do something, esp. in a way that is formally polite.

verb

To sink, as the setting sun.

verb

To approach the end; wane.

The day is declining.

verb

To cause to bend or slope downward or aside.

verb

To refuse, esp. in a formally polite way.

I must decline your offer.

verb

To inflect (a noun, pronoun, or adjective) systematically, giving its different forms according to case, number, and gender.

verb

A declining or becoming less, smaller, etc.; decay.

noun

A failing of health, etc.

noun

A period of decline.

noun

The last part.

The decline of life.

noun

A wasting disease.

noun

A downward slope.

noun

To deteriorate gradually; fail.

Health that has been declining for years.

verb

The process or result of declining, especially a deterioration of health.

The patient's rapid decline.

noun

Downward movement, fall.

noun

A sloping downward, e.g. of a hill or road.

noun

A weakening.

noun

A reduction or diminution of activity.

noun

(intransitive) To move downwards, to fall, to drop.

The dollar has declined rapidly since 2001.

verb

(intransitive) To become weaker or worse.

My health declined in winter.

verb

To bend downward; to bring down; to depress; to cause to bend, or fall.

verb

To cause to decrease or diminish.

verb

To turn or bend aside; to deviate; to stray; to withdraw.

A line that declines from straightness.

Conduct that declines from sound morals.

verb

To refuse, forbear.

On reflection I think I will decline your generous offer.

verb

(grammar, of substantives, usually nouns, adjectives and pronouns) To inflect for case, number and sometimes gender.

verb

(by extension) To run through from first to last; to repeat like a schoolboy declining a noun.

verb

Origin of decline

From Middle English declinen, from Old French decliner, from Latin declinare (“to bend, turn aside, deflect, inflect, decline”), from de (“down”) + clīnō (“I bend, I incline”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱley- (English lean).

Decline meaning

Origin of decline

Sentence Examples

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