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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

   • Cached

   DECLINE definition: 1. to gradually become less, worse, or lower: 2. to refuse: 3. If a noun, pronoun, or adjective…. Learn more.

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

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › decline

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   Noun. deterioration, degeneration, decadence, decline mean the falling from a higher to a lower level in quality, character, or vitality. deterioration implies generally the impairment of value or usefulness. the deterioration of the house through neglect.

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › decline

   • Cached

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

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   9 meanings: 1. to refuse to do or accept (something), esp politely 2. to grow smaller; diminish 3. to slope or cause to slope.... Click for more definitions.

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › decline

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

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