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decline

de·cline

decline

 
 
pronunciation:
dih klaIn
parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb, noun
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun), Grammatical Patterns, Word Parts
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: declines, declining, declined
definition 1: to refuse in a civil or polite way (to do or to give something).
The mayor declined to be interviewed.[verb + infinitive ] The candidate declined to predict the outcome of the election.[verb + infinitive ] The police arrested a suspect in the incident but declined to give details.[verb + infinitive ] The reporters asked the actress about the incident, but she declined comment.
synonyms:
refuse
similar words:
deny
definition 2: to politely refuse (a thing).
I'm sorry, but I'll have to decline your offer.We were busy and had to decline the invitation.
synonyms:
refuse, reject
antonyms:
accept
similar words:
deny, rebuff
definition 3: to cause to slope downward.
The elderly man declined his easy chair so that he could more easily get out of it.
synonyms:
slope
similar words:
descend, dip, plunge, sink, slant
definition 4: in grammar, to list systematically all the inflected forms of (a noun, adjective, or pronoun).
I still remember how to decline the Russian pronouns.
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition 1: to refuse politely.
He asked her to dance, but she declined.
synonyms:
demur, refuse
antonyms:
accept
similar words:
balk, protest
definition 2: to grow weaker or diminish gradually.
My father's health is declining and he can no longer live alone.His fortune has declined in recent years.
synonyms:
abate, decrease, degenerate, deteriorate, ebb, fail, fall, flag, lessen, sink, wane, weaken
antonyms:
blossom, thrive
similar words:
collapse, decay, diminish, drop off, dwindle, fade away, fall off, lag, languish, perish, peter out, shrivel, slip, subside, taper, waste
definition 3: to slope or incline downward.
The road declines sharply here, so put the truck in low gear.
synonyms:
descend, dip, fall, plunge, sink, slope
similar words:
slant
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: noun
definition 1: a falling off or loss.
I've noticed a decline in my strength recently.Last year, there was a decline in the number of crimes in the city.
synonyms:
deterioration, diminution, drop, ebb, loss, wane
antonyms:
development, growth, rise
similar words:
atrophy, decrease, dip, downturn, evening, failing, failure, regression, sag
definition 2: movement downward.
This chart shows the decline in profits over the last six months.
synonyms:
downswing, downturn, drop-off, fall, plunge
similar words:
down, lowering, nose dive, recession, regression, slump
definition 3: a downward slope.
There is a decline in the road just ahead.
synonyms:
declivity, dip, downgrade, drop-off
similar words:
down, drop, fall, grade, incline, pitch, ramp, slant, slope
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: declinable (adj.), decliner (n.)
Word PartsSubscriber feature About this feature