decline

¹de·cline

verb \di-ˈklīn, dē-\

de·clinedde·clin·ing

Definition of DECLINE

intransitive verb

1

archaic : to turn from a straight course : stray

2

a : to slope downward : descend b : to bend down : droop c : to stoop to what is unworthy

3

a of a celestial body : to sink toward setting b : to draw toward a close : wane <the day declined>

4

: to tend toward an inferior state or weaker condition <his health declined> <morale declined>

5

: to withhold consent

6

: to become less in amount <prices declined>

transitive verb

1

: to give in prescribed order the grammatical forms of (a noun, pronoun, or adjective)

2

obsolete a : avert b : avoid

3

: to cause to bend or bow downward

4

a : to refuse to undertake, undergo, engage in, or comply with <decline battle> b : to refuse especially courteously <decline an invitation>

— de·clin·able \-ˈklī-nə-bəl\ adjective

— de·clin·er \-ˈklī-nər\ noun

Examples of DECLINE

1. The construction of new houses declined five percent this year.
2. The animal's numbers are declining rapidly.
3. My grandmother's health has been declining since she broke her hip.
4. The civilization began to decline around 1000 B.C.
5. The company declined comment on the scandal.
6. He changed his mind and declined the company's offer.
7. I invited him, but he declined.

Origin of DECLINE

Middle English, from Anglo-French decliner, from Latin declinare to turn aside, inflect, from de- + clinare to incline — more at lean

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DECLINE

Synonyms: balk (at), deselect, disapprove, negative, nix, pass, pass up, refuse, reject, reprobate, repudiate, spurn, throw out, throw over, turn down, turn one's back on

Antonyms: accept, agree (to), approve

Related Words: blow off, disdain, rebuff, scorn, scout, shoot down; overrule, veto; forbid, prohibit, proscribe; dismiss, ignore; abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from); deny, disavow, disclaim, dispute, gainsay; stick; abjure, forswear (also foreswear), recant, renounce, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw; avoid, bypass, detour; contradict, deny, disown, negate; controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute; back down, back off, backtrack; disallow, recall, renege, revoke

Near Antonyms: condone, countenance, swallow, tolerate; adopt, embrace, receive, take, welcome; accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent; choose, handpick, select; espouse, support

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Synonym Discussion of DECLINE

decline, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn mean to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering. decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations <declined his party's nomination>. refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for <refused to lend them the money>. reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding <rejected the manuscript as unpublishable>. repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance <teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents>. spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation <spurned his overtures of friendship>.