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decline

/dɪˈklaɪn/noun, verb2 syllables

Decline means: not accept as true.

Synonyms for decline23

noun, as in a downward slope or bend

descent, declivity, fall, declination, declension, downslope

noun, as in change toward something smaller or lower

diminution

noun, as in a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state; decline

declination

noun, as in a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current

decay

verb, as in not accept as true

refuse, reject, pass up, turn down, spurn, freeze off, scorn, pooh-pooh, disdain

verb, as in grow smaller

go down, wane

verb, as in fall in value

slump, correct

verb, as in grow worse

worsen

verb, as in show unwillingness towards

refuse

also used for decline

declense

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Opposites of decline

improvement

What does decline mean?11

verb

1

not accept as true“He refused to accept what she said”

2

grow smaller“Interest in the project waned”

3

fall in value“the stock market corrected”

4

grow worse“Conditions in the slum worsened”

5

show unwillingness towards“he declined to join the group on a hike”

6

go down“The roof declines here”

7

inflect for number, gender, case, etc.“in many languages, speakers decline nouns, pronouns, and adjectives”

noun

1

a downward slope or bend

2

change toward something smaller or lower

3

a condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state; decline

4

a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with decline?32

three syllables

redesign
Show 40 near rhymes
ibymyliketimerightwhylifewhilefindhighmightnighttimeslivewhitesidetryfivekindguysmindguynicelightbuychildbehindquitesometimestypeoutsidefightpricewifesiteeyesdiedinsiderights

All 32 rhymes for decline, grouped by syllable

Decline in a sentence

  • Despite revitalization efforts, the number of speakers of the language continues to decline.mailohilohi
  • Ocean pollution is becoming a burning issue, as the fish populations rapidly decline.KPX
  • Now that our police force is larger, the crime rate is likely to decline.CK
  • Between overworking and under-sleeping, her health has begun to decline.nana2capriccio
  • If needed goods are not supplied to the cities, population and markets decline.CM
  • Sometimes, the best decision is to decline an invitation rather than accept it.Nuel
  • When economic growth stagnates or even declines, debts cannot be reduced.AlanF_US
  • When she dies or her productivity declines, worker bees raise a new queen.Hybrid

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of decline

as a noun

plural
declines

as a verb

past tense
declined
present participle
declining
third-person singular
declines
past participle
declined