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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

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   • E

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   • C

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   • L

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   • I

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   • N

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   • E

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

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   Learn the various meanings and uses of the word decline as a verb and a noun, with synonyms, examples, and etymology. Find out how to decline an invitation, a grammatical form, or a slope.

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

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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.

4. People also ask

   What is the difference between decline and incline?

   • 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. Both words contain cline, or "to bend."

   Decline - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

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   What does decline mean in English?

   • If you decline something or decline to do something, you politely refuse to accept it or do it. He declined their invitation. [VERB noun] The band declined to comment on the story. [VERB to-infinitive] He offered the boys some coffee. They declined politely. [VERB]

   DECLINE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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   What is the difference between decline and refuse?

   • decline, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn mean to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering. decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations. refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

   Decline Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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   How many meanings are there for the noun decline?

   • There are nine meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun decline. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

   decline, n. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English Dictionary

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   What happens if something declines?

   • If something declines, it becomes less in quantity, importance, or strength. The number of staff has declined from 217,000 to 114,000. [VERB + from] Hourly output by workers declined 1.3% in the first quarter. [VERB amount] Union membership and union power are declining fast. [VERB] ...a declining birth rate. [VERB -ing]

   DECLINE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

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   What are some examples of decline?

   • … the clover … declines its blooms. W. C. Bryant … evasions are sought to decline the pressure of resistless arguments … Samuel Johnson … sinners … despairing to decline their fate … Thomas Ken decline, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn mean to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering.

   Decline Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

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

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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.vocabulary.com › dictionary › declineDecline - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › decline

   When something declines, it goes downhill. If you stop working out, your health may decline. If you want it to improve, you should start climbing inclines instead of coasting down declines.

7. Videos

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8. www.oed.com › dictionary › decline_ndecline, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English ...

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   Learn the nine meanings of the noun decline in English, from medical to financial terms. See etymology, pronunciation, frequency, and examples of decline in different contexts.

9. www.collinsdictionary.com › english-word › declineDECLINE - Meaning & Translations | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › english-word › decline

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   Learn the meaning, usage, and pronunciation of the word decline in English. Find out how to decline something or someone, and how to use decline as a noun or verb in different contexts.

10. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › declineDECLINE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › decline

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    Learn the meaning of decline as a noun and a verb, with synonyms and translations in different languages. See how to use decline in sentences to express refusal, reduction, or deterioration.