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
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.