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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   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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   1. : to become less in amount. The price of the stock declined. 2. : to tend toward an inferior state or weaker condition. his health declined. Employee morale declined after the layoffs. 3. : to withhold consent. We invited him but he declined. 4. a. of a celestial body : to sink toward setting. the declining sun. b.

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.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.

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   DECLINE definition: 1. a situation in which something becomes less in amount, importance, quality, or strength: 2. If…. Learn more.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › decline

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   n. 1. The process or result of declining, especially: a. A gradual deterioration, as in numbers, activity, or quality: "overwhelming evidence that fish stocks ... are in decline" (Jonathan Bocknek). b. A downward movement or fall, as in price. c. A deterioration of health: the patient's rapid decline.

10. www.britannica.com › dictionary › declineDecline Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

    www.britannica.com › dictionary › decline

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    DECLINE meaning: 1 : to become lower in amount or less in number; 2 : to become worse in condition or quality

11. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › declinedecline | meaning of decline in Longman Dictionary of...

    www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › decline

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    decline meaning, definition, what is decline: a decrease in the quality, quantity, or ...: Learn more.