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1. Dictionary

   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

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • C

     3

   • L

     1

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

   • E

     1

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2. 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.

3. 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 etymology. Decline can mean to become less, to refuse, to slope downward, or to deteriorate.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryDECLINE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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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.

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. www.thefreedictionary.com › declineDecline - definition of decline by The Free Dictionary

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   1. To express polite refusal: I wanted to invite them but I was afraid they would decline. 2. a. To slope downward; descend: The roof declines at a steep angle. b. To bend downward; droop: boughs declining toward the ground. 3. To degrade or lower oneself; stoop: refused to decline to their level of behavior. 4.

7. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishdecline verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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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.

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

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   Learn the meaning 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 or adjective, and how to pronounce decline in British and American English.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishDECLINE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary - Cambridge...

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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

10. 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.

11. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishdecline noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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    Learn the meaning, pronunciation and usage of the noun decline, which means a continuous decrease in the number, value, quality, etc. of something. See examples of decline in different contexts and topics, such as education, economy and environment.