DECLINE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does decline mean? 

• DECLINE (noun)
  The noun DECLINE has 4 senses:

1. change toward something smaller or lower

2. a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state

3. a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current

4. a downward slope or bend

  Familiarity information: DECLINE used as a noun is uncommon.

• DECLINE (verb)
  The verb DECLINE has 7 senses:

1. grow worse

2. refuse to accept

3. show unwillingness towards

4. grow smaller

5. go down

6. go down in value

7. inflect for number, gender, case, etc.

  Familiarity information: DECLINE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DECLINE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Change toward something smaller or lower

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

decline; diminution

Hypernyms ("decline" is a kind of...):

decrease; decrement (a process of becoming smaller or shorter)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decline"):

slippage (decline from a standard level of performance or achievement)

sinking spell (a temporary decline in health or value)

nosedive (a sudden sharp drop or rapid decline)

loss (gradual decline in amount or activity)

erosion (a gradual decline of something)

ebb; ebbing; wane (a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number))

detumescence (diminution of swelling; the subsidence of anything swollen)

declension; decline in quality; deterioration; worsening (process of changing to an inferior state)

Derivation:

decline (grow smaller)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

declination; decline

Hypernyms ("decline" is a kind of...):

condition; status (a state at a particular time)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decline"):

disuse; neglect (the state of something that has been unused and neglected)

twilight (a condition of decline following successes)

wreck (something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation)

Antonym:

improvement (a condition superior to an earlier condition)

Derivation:

decline (grow worse)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

decay; decline

Hypernyms ("decline" is a kind of...):

decrease; decrement (a process of becoming smaller or shorter)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decline"):

exponential decay; exponential return (a decrease that follows an exponential function)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A downward slope or bend

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

declension; declination; decline; declivity; descent; downslope; fall

Hypernyms ("decline" is a kind of...):

incline; side; slope (an elevated geological formation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decline"):

steep (a steep place (as on a hill))

downhill (the downward slope of a hill)

Derivation:

decline (go down)

• DECLINE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Grow worse

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

decline; worsen

Context example:

Conditions in the slum worsened

Hypernyms (to "decline" is one way to...):

change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decline"):

fail (get worse)

turn down (take a downward direction)

regress; retrograde; retrogress (get worse or fall back to a previous condition)

lose; suffer (be set at a disadvantage)

suffer; drop away; drop off; fall away; slip (get worse)

tumble (suffer a sudden downfall, overthrow, or defeat)

deprive; impoverish (take away)

degenerate; deteriorate; devolve; drop (grow worse)

come down; sicken (get sick)

inflame (become inflamed; get sore)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sentence examples:

The stock market is going to decline
The business is going to decline

Derivation:

declension (process of changing to an inferior state)

declination; decline (a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Refuse to accept

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

decline; pass up; refuse; reject; turn down

Context example:

He refused my offer of hospitality

Verb group:

disdain; freeze off; pooh-pooh; reject; scorn; spurn; turn down (reject with contempt)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decline"):

dishonor; dishonour (refuse to accept)

bounce (refuse to accept and send back)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something from somebody

Sentence example:

They decline the money

Derivation:

declination (a polite refusal of an invitation)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Show unwillingness towards

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

decline; refuse

Context example:

he declined to join the group on a hike

Hypernyms (to "decline" is one way to...):

react; respond (show a response or a reaction to something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decline"):

disdain; freeze off; pooh-pooh; reject; scorn; spurn; turn down (reject with contempt)

contract out (refuse to pay a levy to a union for political use)

regret (decline formally or politely)

repudiate (refuse to recognize or pay)

disobey (refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They decline to move

Sense 4

Meaning:

Grow smaller

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

decline; go down; wane

Context example:

Interest in the project waned

Hypernyms (to "decline" is one way to...):

decrease; diminish; fall; lessen (decrease in size, extent, or range)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decline"):

dip (go down momentarily)

wear on (pass slowly (of time))

drop (go down in value)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

decline (change toward something smaller or lower)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Go down

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Context example:

The roof declines here

Hypernyms (to "decline" is one way to...):

drop (to fall vertically)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decline"):

dip; sink (appear to move downward)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

declension; declination; decline (a downward slope or bend)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Go down in value

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

correct; decline; slump

Context example:

prices slumped

Hypernyms (to "decline" is one way to...):

come down; descend; fall; go down (move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 7

Meaning:

Inflect for number, gender, case, etc.

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

in many languages, speakers decline nouns, pronouns, and adjectives

Hypernyms (to "decline" is one way to...):

inflect (change the form of a word in accordance as required by the grammatical rules of the language)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

declension (a class of nouns or pronouns or adjectives in Indo-European languages having the same (or very similar) inflectional forms)

declension (the inflection of nouns and pronouns and adjectives in Indo-European languages)

 Context examples 

Finding my apprehensions unfounded, however, and calmed by the deep silence that reigned as evening declined at nightfall, I took confidence.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Researchers have identified 57 genetic variations of a gene strongly associated with declines in blood oxygen levels during sleep.

(Researchers identify genetic variations linked to oxygen drops during sleep, National Institutes of Health)

The scientists found that 15 (13%) of the 119 children were sesame-allergic, 73 (61%) were sesame-tolerant, and sesame-allergic status could not be determined for 31 (26%) children, mainly because they declined the oral food challenge.

(17% of Food-Allergic Children Have Sesame Allergy, National Institutes of Health)

The effects of age on these cells contributes to MS, but their function also declines with age in healthy people.

(Cambridge scientists reverse ageing process in rat brain stem cells, University of Cambridge)

The findings indicate that a rapid lake level decline was possible tens of thousands of years ago — and could happen again in the future.

(Environmental change in Africa: Will it lead to a drying Lake Victoria?, National Science Foundation)

By the time memory loss and other worrisome signs appear, cognitive decline has already begun.

(Predicting Alzheimer's-like memory loss before it strikes, National Science Foundation)

But although gentoo and chinstrap penguins are found in the same locations, gentoo penguins are increasing in abundance while chinstrap penguins are rapidly declining.

(Whaling and climate change lead to 100 years of feast or famine for Antarctic penguins, National Science Foundation)

The invitation was general, and generally declined.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Between 1987 and 2000, the Dry Valleys experienced a period of cooling, during which mean summer temperatures steadily declined while solar radiation gradually increased.

(Extreme melt season leads to decade-long ecosystem changes in Antarctica's Dry Valleys, National Science Foundation)

He was compelled to admit that the call had come for him, but that he had declined it.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)