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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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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. If there is a decline in something, it becomes less in quantity, importance, or quality. Read about the team of authors behind Collins Dictionaries. Drag the correct answer into the box. What is this an image of?

   DECLINE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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   What is a decline in popularity?

   • to decline in popularity. to descend, as to an unworthy level; stoop. Grammar. to be characterized by declension. a downward slope; declivity. a decline in the stock market. the decline of the Roman Empire. After his seventieth birthday he went into a decline. progress downward or toward the close, as of the sun or the day.

   DECLINE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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   What is the difference between decline and decadence?

   • decadence presupposes a reaching and passing the peak of development and implies a turn downward with a consequent loss in vitality or energy. decline differs from decadence in suggesting a more markedly downward direction and greater momentum as well as more obvious evidence of deterioration.

   Decline Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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

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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

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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.

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

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   Decline definition: to withhold or deny consent to do, enter into or upon, etc.; refuse. See examples of DECLINE used in a sentence.

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

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation, and usage of the word decline as a verb, noun, and grammatical term. Find out how to decline something politely, how to decline a noun, adjective, or pronoun, and how to decline in health, value, or quality.

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

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   Definition of decline verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

9. 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.

10. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › declineDECLINE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › decline

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    Learn the meaning of decline as a noun and a verb, with synonyms and translations. See how to use decline in sentences to express refusal, reduction, or deterioration.