- 1 [intransitive] (rather formal) to become smaller, fewer, weaker, etc. Support for the party continues to decline. The number of tourists to the resort declined by 10% last year. Her health was declining rapidly. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbconsiderably, dramatically, drastically, … prepositionby, from, to, … phrasesdecline in importance, numbers, size, etc. See full entry
- 2[intransitive, transitive] (formal) to refuse politely to accept or to do something synonym refuse1 I offered to give them a lift but they declined. decline something to decline an offer/invitation She declined a second glass of wine and called for a taxi. decline to do something Their spokesman declined to comment on the allegations. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbpolitely, respectfully See full entry
- 3[intransitive, transitive] decline (something) (grammar) if a noun, an adjective or a pronoun declines, it has different forms according to whether it is the subject or the object of a verb, whether it is in the singular or plural, etc. When you decline a noun, etc., you list these forms. See related entries: Grammar compare conjugate Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French decliner, from Latin declinare ‘bend down, turn aside’, from de- ‘down’ + clinare ‘to bend’.Extra examples I absolutely decline to discuss my dealings with him or anyone. Profits declined by 6% this year. The economy has declined sharply in recent years. The market for these products is declining fast. The number of full-time staff has declined from 300 to just 50. This section of the market has slowly declined in importance. I offered to drive them there but they declined. Manufacturing industry has slowly declined in importance. Patients of course have the right to decline treatment. She declined a second glass of wine. The minister declined to be interviewed. The number of tourists visiting the resort declined by 10% last year. We politely declined her invitation.Idioms
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BrE BrE//dɪˈklaɪn//; NAmE NAmE//dɪˈklaɪn//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they decline BrE BrE//dɪˈklaɪn//; NAmE NAmE//dɪˈklaɪn//
he / she / it declines BrE BrE//dɪˈklaɪnz//; NAmE NAmE//dɪˈklaɪnz//
past simple declined BrE BrE//dɪˈklaɪnd//; NAmE NAmE//dɪˈklaɪnd//
past participle declined BrE BrE//dɪˈklaɪnd//; NAmE NAmE//dɪˈklaɪnd//
-ing form declining BrE BrE//dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ//
Grammar(literary) the last years of somebody’s life
Check pronunciation: decline
