Decline - Dictionary Page
Decline
Part of Speech
Verb, Noun
Pronunciation
/dɪˈklaɪn/ (American English)
/dɪˈklaɪn/ (British English)
Definitions
As a Verb:
- To become smaller, fewer, or less; decrease.
- To politely refuse an offer or invitation.
- To deteriorate in quality, strength, or value.
As a Noun:
- A gradual decrease in quality, quantity, or importance.
- A downward slope or movement.
Usage Examples
- Her health began to decline after the accident.
- He declined the job offer politely.
- The company's profits have seen a steady decline over the past year.
Etymology
From Latin "declinare" meaning "to bend down, turn aside," through Old French "decliner" and later adopted into English.
Synonyms
- Decrease
- Deteriorate
- Reject
- Refuse
- Drop
Antonyms
- Increase
- Accept
- Rise
- Improve
Translations
| Language |
Translation |
Pronunciation |
| Spanish |
Declinar / Declive |
de-klee-NAR / de-KLEE-veh |
| French |
Déclin / Décliner |
day-KLAN / day-klee-NAY |
| German |
Rückgang / Ablehnen |
RUEK-gang / AHB-layn-en |
| Hindi |
गिरावट / अस्वीकृति |
giravat / asweekriti |
| Tamil |
சரிவு / நிராகரிப்பு |
sarivu / niraagarippu |
| Chinese |
下降 / 拒绝 |
xiàjiàng / jùjué |
| Japanese |
減少 / 拒否 |
genshou / kyohi |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- British English: /dɪˈklaɪn/
- American English: /dɪˈklaɪn/
Historical Usage
Originally used in Latin to indicate a physical bending or downward movement, "decline" later evolved to signify a decrease or deterioration in various contexts, from social status to economic performance.
Cultural Nuances
In formal speech, "decline" is often used as a polite refusal (e.g., "I must decline your invitation"). In economics, it refers to a reduction in value or performance, while in health contexts, it describes a gradual weakening of physical or mental condition.
More Information
The word "decline" is widely used in different disciplines, such as finance, politics, health, and linguistics. It plays a crucial role in describing downturns in stock markets, civilizations, and physical well-being. In grammar, some languages feature "declension," which refers to the variation of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives to express different grammatical cases.