Decline - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT decline /dɪˈklɑɪn/ /dɪˈklɑɪn/ IPA guide

Other forms: declined; declining; declines

When something declines, it goes downhill. If you stop working out, your health may decline. If you want it to improve, you should start climbing inclines instead of coasting down declines.

The verb decline means refuse to accept, but the noun decline means a downward slope (the opposite of an incline), or a decrease in quality. At the gym, the treadmill has an incline button to control how steep your climb is. Sadly, there's no button for decline, which would be much easier. Both words contain cline, or "to bend." The prefix tells you which way the bend goes. Decline implies a going, or turning, down.

Definitions of decline

verb grow worse synonyms: worsen see moresee less types: show 20 types... hide 20 types... inflame become inflamed; get sore come down, sicken get sick degenerate, deteriorate, devolve, drop grow worse deprive, impoverish take away fail get worse tumble suffer a sudden downfall, overthrow, or defeat drop away, drop off, fall away, slip get worse suffer get worse lose, suffer be set at a disadvantage regress, retrograde, retrogress get worse or fall back to a previous condition turn down take a downward direction fatigue, jade, pall, tire, weary lose interest or become bored with something or somebody wan become pale and sickly contract, get, take be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness canker become infected with a canker fade, languish become feeble rot, waste become physically weaker disestablish deprive (an established church) of its status backslide, lapse drop to a lower level, as in one's morals or standards drop off, fall back, fall behind, lose, recede retreat type of: change state, turn undergo a transformation or a change of position or action
verb grow smaller synonyms: go down, wane see moresee less types: show 5 types... hide 5 types... dip go down momentarily wear on pass slowly (of time) drop go down in value fall off, sink, slump fall heavily or suddenly; decline markedly tumble fall suddenly and sharply type of: decrease, diminish, fall, lessen decrease in size, extent, or range
noun a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current synonyms: decay see moresee less types: exponential decay, exponential return a decrease that follows an exponential function relaxation, relaxation behavior (physics) the exponential return of a system to equilibrium after a disturbance type of: decrease, decrement a process of becoming smaller or shorter
noun change toward something smaller or lower synonyms: diminution see moresee less types: show 11 types... hide 11 types... declension, decline in quality, deterioration, worsening the process of changing to an inferior state detumescence diminution of swelling; the subsidence of anything swollen ebb, ebbing, wane a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number) erosion a gradual decline of something loss gradual decline in amount or activity nosedive a sudden sharp drop or rapid decline sinking spell a temporary decline in health or value slippage decline from a standard level of performance or achievement epilation loss of hair; the result of removing hair reducing loss of excess weight (as by dieting); becoming slimmer drop-off, falling off, falloff, slack, slump a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality type of: decrease, decrement a process of becoming smaller or shorter
noun a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state synonyms: declination see moresee less antonyms: improvement a condition superior to an earlier condition types: show 4 types... hide 4 types... disuse, neglect the state of something that has been unused and neglected twilight a condition of decline following successes wreck something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation omission something that has been omitted type of: condition, status a state at a particular time
verb go down “The roof declines here” see moresee less types: dip, sink appear to move downward subside sink to a lower level or form a depression type of: drop fall vertically
verb go down in value synonyms: correct, slump see moresee less type of: come down, descend, fall, go down move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
noun a downward slope or bend synonyms: declension, declination, declivity, descent, downslope, fall see moresee less types: downhill the downward slope of a hill steep a steep place (as on a hill) type of: incline, side, slope an elevated geological formation
verb show unwillingness towards “he declined to join the group on a hike” synonyms: balk, refuse see moresee less types: show 9 types... hide 9 types... disdain, freeze off, pooh-pooh, reject, scorn, spurn, turn down reject with contempt contract out refuse to pay a levy to a union for political use regret decline formally or politely repudiate refuse to recognize or pay disobey refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient rebuff, repel, snub reject outright and bluntly sit in participate in an act of civil disobedience counteract, countermine, sabotage, subvert, undermine, weaken destroy property or hinder normal operations balk, baulk, jib, resist refuse to comply type of: react, respond show a response or a reaction to something
verb refuse to accept synonyms: pass up, refuse, reject, turn down disdain, freeze off, pooh-pooh, reject, scorn, spurn, turn down reject with contempt see moresee less types: dishonor, dishonour refuse to accept bounce refuse to accept and send back
verb inflect for number, gender, case, etc., "in many languages, speakers decline nouns, pronouns, and adjectives" see moresee less type of: inflect change the form of a word in accordance as required by the grammatical rules of the language

Pronunciation US /dɪˈklɑɪn/ UK /dɪˈklɑɪn/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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