decline
/dɪˈklaɪn/
verb
- To become smaller, weaker, or worse in quality, amount, or importance.
- The population of the small town has been declining for decades.
- The company's profits began to decline after the new competitor entered the market.
- As he grew older, his physical strength started to decline.
- To politely refuse or say no to an invitation, offer, or request.
- She declined the invitation to the party because she was too busy.
- The witness declined to answer the lawyer's question.
- I offered him a ride, but he politely declined.
- In grammar, to give the different forms of a noun, pronoun, or adjective according to case, number, and gender.
- It is important to decline adjectives correctly in German.
- The teacher asked us to decline the pronoun 'who' in all its forms.
- In Latin class, students learn to decline nouns like 'puella'.
Synonyms
noun
- A gradual decrease or loss of quality, quantity, or strength.
- The decline of the Roman Empire took place over several centuries.
- The doctor warned that his health was in serious decline.
- There has been a sharp decline in the number of bees in the area.
- A polite refusal of something offered or requested.
- Her decline of the job offer surprised everyone.
- The senator issued a formal decline of the invitation.
- We received a polite decline to our request for funding.