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1. Dictionary

   de·cline

   /dəˈklīn/

   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
   • ▪ politely refuse to do something: "the company declined to comment"
   • 3. (especially of the sun) move downward: "the sun began to creep around 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 cases, 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:nosedivecrashletupdeteriorationdegenerationdegradationshrinkageshrinkingwitheringatrophyweakeningenfeeblementfallfailuredeathdecaydecayingdated:decadencerare:devolutionOpposite increase
   • ▪ the gradual setting of the sun: "this Evening from the Sun's decline arriv'd"
   • ▪ any disease in which 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. 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 word history. See also related phrases and entries near decline.

3. 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.

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › decline

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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.

5. 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.

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › decline

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   Learn the meaning and usage of the word decline in different contexts, such as grammar, medicine, and business. Find synonyms, antonyms, and related terms for decline in the online thesaurus.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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

   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. See how to use decline in sentences to express refusal, reduction, or deterioration.