Decline
Definition
Decline is a noun and verb. As a noun, it refers to a gradual decrease or weakening in quantity, quality, or strength. As a verb, it means to reduce or decrease over time, or to refuse something politely.
Parts of Speech
- Noun
- Verb
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /dɪˈklaɪn/
- Respelling: di-KLYN
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /dɪˈklaɪn/
- Respelling: di-KLYN
Etymology
The word "decline" originates from the Latin "declinare," meaning "to bend down or turn aside." It entered Middle English from Old French "decliner," carrying the sense of a gradual downward slope or decrease.
Derivatives
- Declining (adjective)
- Declinable (adjective)
- Declination (noun)
- Decliner (noun)
- Declinist (noun)
Synonyms
- Decrease
- Deterioration
- Reduction
Antonyms
- Growth
- Increase
- Improvement
Usage
The term "decline" is often used to describe a reduction or weakening, such as "The company saw a decline in sales." It also describes the act of refusing politely, as in "She chose to decline the invitation."
Related Terms
- Diminish: To decrease or make something seem smaller or less important.
- Refusal: The act of declining an offer or proposal.
- Regression: A return to a previous, often less developed state.
Detailed Definitions
Noun
- A gradual decrease in strength, quantity, or quality: Refers to a reduction or weakening over time.
- Example: "There was a marked decline in the population of the area."
- A downward slope: Describes a sloping surface that leads downwards.
- Example: "The path led to a gentle decline."
Verb
- To reduce in amount, quality, or strength over time: Indicates a gradual weakening or reduction.
- Example: "Their health began to decline with age."
- To politely refuse an invitation or offer: Used to indicate turning down something in a polite manner.
- Example: "She declined the offer for dinner."
decline
The company's profits are declining.
The path declined steeply after the bridge.
She declined the offer for a second piece of cake.
🇨🇳 Mandarin (Simplified Chinese)
- 下降
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɕi̯ɑ˥˩ ʈ͡ʂjʊŋ˥/
- English Respelling: xià jiàng
- 拒绝
- IPA Pronunciation: /t͡ɕy˥˩ ʐɵ˥˩/
- English Respelling: jù jué
🇮🇳 Hindi
- गिरावट
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɡɪɾaʋəʈ/
- English Respelling: giraavat
- अस्वीकार करना
- IPA Pronunciation: /əsviːkaːr kəɾnə/
- English Respelling: asveekaar karna
🇪🇸 Spanish
- Disminuir
- IPA Pronunciation: /dis.mi'niɾ/
- English Respelling: dis-mi-NEER
- Rechazar
- IPA Pronunciation: /re.t͡ʃaˈθaɾ/ or /re.t͡ʃaˈsaɾ/
- English Respelling: re-cha-ZAR
🇫🇷 French
- Diminuer
- IPA Pronunciation: /di.mi.nɥe/
- English Respelling: dee-mee-NYEUH
- Refuser
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʁə.fy.ze/
- English Respelling: reh-fyu-ZAY
🇸🇦 Modern Standard Arabic
- انخفاض
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʔanxɪfaːʕ/
- English Respelling: ankhefaa'
- رفض
- IPA Pronunciation: /rafðˤ/
- English Respelling: rafdh
🇧🇩 Bengali
- কমল
- IPA Pronunciation: /kɔmɔl/
- English Respelling: komol
- প্রত্যাখ্যান করা
- IPA Pronunciation: /prɔtjaːkʰjaːn kɔɾa/
- English Respelling: protyakhyan kora
🇷🇺 Russian
- Убывать
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʊˈbɨvətʲ/
- English Respelling: ubyvat'
- Отклонять
- IPA Pronunciation: /ətklɐˈnʲitʲ/
- English Respelling: otklonit'
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- Diminuir
- IPA Pronunciation: /dʒimiˈnwiʁ/
- English Respelling: jee-mee-NWEER
- Recusar
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʁe.kuˈzaɾ/
- English Respelling: reh-koo-SAHR
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- Menurun
- IPA Pronunciation: /məˈnurun/
- English Respelling: me-NOO-roon
- Menolak
- IPA Pronunciation: /məˈnolak/
- English Respelling: me-NO-lahk
🇩🇪 German
- Abnehmen
- IPA Pronunciation: /apˈneːmən/
- English Respelling: ap-NAY-men
- Ablehnen
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈapleːnən/
- English Respelling: AB-lay-nen
🇯🇵 Japanese
- 減少する
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɡeɴʃoː suru/
- English Respelling: genshō suru
- 断る
- IPA Pronunciation: /koːtaːɾu/
- English Respelling: kōtaru
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- Giảm
- IPA Pronunciation: /zaːm˧/
- English Respelling: zaam
- Từ chối
- IPA Pronunciation: /tʊ˧˥ t͡ɕoj˧˥/
- English Respelling: too choy
🇰🇷 Korean
- 감소하다
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɡam.so.ha.da/
- English Respelling: gam-so-ha-da
- 거절하다
- IPA Pronunciation: /kʌ.d͡ʑʌl.ha.da/
- English Respelling: geo-jeol-ha-da
🇹🇷 Turkish
- Azalmak
- IPA Pronunciation: /azalˈmak/
- English Respelling: a-zal-MAK
- Reddetmek
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɾedˈdetmek/
- English Respelling: red-DET-mek
🇵🇰 Urdu
- کم ہونا
- IPA Pronunciation: /kʌm hoːnə/
- English Respelling: kum hona
- انکار کرنا
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɪnkaːr kəɾnə/
- English Respelling: inkaar karna
