Definition

1. Noun:

   • A downward slope or bend: A physical downward inclination or a bending downward.
   • A gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current: A slow reduction in amount, level, or intensity.
   • A condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state: A state of deterioration or a process of becoming worse or less powerful.

2. Verb:

   • To go down in value: To decrease in monetary worth or market price.
   • To go down: To move to a lower position or level.
   • To grow smaller: To diminish in size, amount, or intensity.
   • To show unwillingness towards; to refuse to accept: To politely or formally say no to an offer, invitation, or request.
   • To grow worse: To deteriorate in condition or quality.
   • To inflect for number, gender, case, etc.: In grammar, to state the different forms of a noun, pronoun, or adjective.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The path followed a steep decline down the mountain. (The path followed a steep downward slope.)
  • There has been a steady decline in the company's profits this year. (There has been a steady gradual decrease.)
  • The empire entered a period of economic and cultural decline. (The empire entered a period of deterioration.)

• Verb:

  • The value of the property has declined significantly. (The property's monetary worth has decreased.)
  • The road declines sharply after the bridge. (The road slopes downward.)
  • Public interest in the scandal began to decline after a few weeks. (Public interest began to grow smaller.)
  • She declined the job offer for personal reasons. (She refused to accept the job offer.)
  • His health declined rapidly in the final months. (His health grew worse.)
  • In Latin, students must learn how to decline nouns. (Students must learn to state the grammatical forms.)

Advanced Usage

• "To be on the decline": To be in a state of decreasing or deteriorating.

  • The neighborhood is on the decline, with many shops closing. (The area is deteriorating.)

• "To fall into decline": To enter a state of deterioration.

  • After the war, the industry fell into a steep decline. (The industry entered a state of rapid deterioration.)

Variants and Related Words

• Declension (n): In grammar, the variation of the form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective; also, a state of deterioration.

  • The first declension in Latin includes many feminine nouns. (A grammatical category.)
  • The moral declension of the character was central to the plot. (A moral deterioration.)

• Declining (adj): Decreasing or deteriorating.

  • He is in declining health. (His health is getting worse.)

Synonyms

• Noun (Decrease): Decrease, downturn, drop, fall, slump.
• Verb (Refuse): Refuse, reject, turn down.
• Verb (Worsen): Deteriorate, worsen, degenerate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Decline into: To deteriorate and enter a worse state.
  • The peaceful protest declined into chaos. (The protest deteriorated and became chaotic.)

Related Idioms

• In decline: In a state of decreasing quality or power.

  • The old manufacturing town is in decline. (The town is deteriorating.)

• Past its decline: Having already passed the worst point of deterioration (less common, often "past its prime").

  • The theory was past its decline and no longer taken seriously. (The theory was already considered obsolete.)

Noun

1. a downward slope or bend
2. a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
3. a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state
4. change toward something smaller or lower

Verb

1. inflect for number, gender, case, etc., "in many languages, speakers decline nouns, pronouns, and adjectives"
2. go down in value
   • the stock market corrected
   • prices slumped
3. go down
   • The roof declines here
4. grow smaller
   • Interest in the project waned
5. show unwillingness towards
   • he declined to join the group on a hike
6. refuse to accept
   • He refused my offer of hospitality
7. grow worse
   • Conditions in the slum worsened