decline in English
- decline⇄decline, verb, -clined,-clining,noun.
- decline⇄noun 1. a falling to a lower level; sinking.
Ex. a decline in prices, the decline of the sun to the horizon.
2. (Figurative.) a losing of power, strength, wealth, or beauty; growing worse.
Ex. the decline of the Roman Empire. The old m - decline⇄v.i. 1. to refuse something politely.
2. (Figurative.) to grow less in power, strength, wealth, or beauty; grow worse; decay.
Ex. Great nations have risen and declined. A man's strength declines as he grows old.
(SYN) deteriorate, deg - decline⇄v.t. 1. to turn away from doing; refuse (to do something).
Ex. The boy declined to do what he was told.
(SYN) reject.
2. to refuse politely.
Ex. I have to decline your invitation because Mother expects me at home now. He decline
decline in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
decline in Hindi हिन्दी
decline in Marathi मराठी
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.