decline1 noundecline2 verb
declinede‧cline1 /dɪˈklaɪn/ ●●○ W3 AWL noun [singular, uncountable] 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Firms with large debts may not have the financial strength to survive a prolonged sales decline or a recession.
- Stock markets in Europe showed similar declines.
- We can expect a further decline in job vacancies.
- A decline in coal demand would benefit either the nuclear or gas industries.
- According to the police, however, there was a decline in the level of violence immediately following the signing of the accord.
- He said the decline is partly because retailers have lifted prices for mobile phones after cutting them earlier in 1995.
- Its final decline was brought about by a change in the public attitude to death.
- The fur industry is already seeing a major decline in sales.
- The reaction against Gothic continued despite its decline.
- The underlying assumption is that gradual hormonal decline is bad because some physical functions decline at the same time.
- Their biggest decline under coach Barry Switzer has been in pass defense.
THESAURUS
used when the number, amount, or level of something becomes less than it used to be: · There has been a significant decrease in the number of deaths from lung cancer.· a 5% decrease in housing prices
used when the price, amount, or level of something is made lower: · There will be further price reductions in the sales.· A small reduction in costs can mean a large increase in profits.
used when a government or company reduces the price, amount, or level of something: · a 1% cut in interest rates· tax cuts· It is possible that there will be further job cuts.
used when the number, amount, or level of something goes down, especially by a large amount: · The figures showed a sharp fall in industrial output.· There was a dramatic drop in temperature.
used when the number, amount, level, or standard of something goes down, especially gradually: · During the 1970s, there was a gradual decline in the birthrate.· a decline in educational standards
Longman Language Activatorwhen prices, numbers etc become less to become less: · Attendance at the school's basketball games has gone down significantly in the last few years.· I'm hoping the price will come down if I wait a while.
to become less, especially by a large amount: · Sales have fallen dramatically in Houston and Toronto.fall/drop to: · At night, the temperature drops to -20°C.fall/drop from something to something: · Profits fell from £98.5 million to £76 million.
to become less - used especially in writing about business or technical subjects: · Experts say that the time parents spend with their children is decreasing.decrease to: · The speed of rotation gradually decreases to zero.
a gradual decrease in the number or amount of something good or important so that the situation becomes worse: · Firms with large debts may not have the financial strength to survive a prolonged sales decline or a recession.decline in: · We can expect a further decline in job vacancies.
when a price, level etc is reduced - use this when something is reduced deliberately: · New production methods led to a cost reduction of about 50 percent.reduction in: · Cleaner fuel has contributed to a reduction in air pollution.· a reduction in working hours
a reduction in the amount or size of something made by a government or large organization - use this especially when talking about politics or business: cut in: · Cuts in the education budget have led to fewer teachers and larger classes.pay/job/tax cuts (=cuts in wages, number of jobs, or taxes): · The whole team agreed to take pay cuts, rather than see their colleagues lose their jobs.· Some senators have called for huge tax cuts to stimulate the economy.
to drop very rapidly and by a large amount: · As soon as the sun went down, the temperature plummeted.· The drought has caused the price of hay to soar, and the price of cattle has plummeted.plummet/plunge 20 degrees/thirty points etc: · The stock market plunged 30 points when the news was announced.
if a number or the amount of activity happening tapers off , it gradually decreases: · Towards sunset, the rain began to taper off.
if supplies or numbers of something dwindle , they gradually decrease: · The country's foreign currency reserves have dwindled over the past few years.dwindle to: · The original platoon of 30 men had dwindled to 12.
if a price or value slides it gradually decreases in a way that causes problems - used especially in news reports: · Prices will continue to slide unless production is reduced.· The dollar fell in late trading in New York yesterday and slid further this morning.
also nosedive informal if the price or value of something takes a nosedive , it becomes lower very quickly and causes problems. If an economy takes a nosedive it become worse very quickly: · Since January, sales of cars and trucks, including minivans, have nosedived.· Shares on the stock exchange took another nosedive Friday.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Meaning 2adjectives
Steiner lamented the lack of public interest in the issue. the progressive increase in population an attempt to stem the decline in profitsCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
(=by a large amount)· The higher prices caused a sharp decline in sales.
(=fast)· We noticed a rapid decline in his health.
(=extremely fast, and by a large amount)· The last three years have seen a dramatic decline in the number of tigers in the area.
(=very noticeable)· Hunting led to a marked decline in bird numbers.
· After 1870, there was a gradual decline of the disease.
(=gradual but continuous)· There has been a steady decline in club membership.
(=happening for a long time)· The long-term decline in the manufacturing industry is still continuing.
· This area has been severely affected by long-term industrial decline.
verbs· The use of agricultural chemicals has led to a decline in water quality.
(=become less important, successful etc)· At the beginning of the century the cloth trade was going into decline.
· The firm suffered a sharp decline in its profits.
(=stop it from continuing)· These measures are intended to halt the decline in fish populations.
(=make something start to improve again)· The main aim is to reverse the decline of the world’s environment.
(=used to say that a decline happens at a particular time or in a particular place)· The 20th century saw a steady decline in the rural population.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· Between these years there was a dramatic fall in youth employment.
(=the gradual decrease in an empire's power)· The next two hundred years saw the gradual decline of the Roman empire.
· Exports of gas and oil continued to fall while imports of raw materials have risen.
· There has been a decline in exports and an increase in oil prices.
(=one that is doing badly)· Coal and steel are declining industries in Britain.
(=becomes less successful)· The shipping industry declined after World War II.
Steiner lamented the lack of public interest in the issue.· The number of new houses being built is falling steadily.
(=say no to it)· She declined the offer of a lift.
· As fashions changed, their popularity declined.
· The population in many rural areas has continued to fall.
the progressive increase in population· These parasites cause a rapid decline in the health of the fish.
· His policies had reversed the decline in the economy.
· School inspectors say that educational standards have fallen.
· There has been a general decline in standards of literacy among undergraduates.
· The result has been a steady decline in membership.
an attempt to stem the decline in profits· It was the biggest decline since a 101. 52-point drop on Dec. 19.· Bonds peaked in January, and suffered a big decline since then.· Intuit Inc. posted the biggest decline, falling 15 percent after the stock was downgraded by an analyst.· It also was the biggest monthly decline in unemployment.· Premysis Communications Inc. posted the biggest decline for the index, falling 3 1 / 2 to 41 1 / 2.· Their biggest decline under coach Barry Switzer has been in pass defense.
· In fact, it has led to a dramatic decline in votes for the two main parties, Likud and Labour.· Experts call the insecticides a major advance and say Phoenix-area residents can expect a dramatic decline in the whitefly population this fall.· Recent opinion polls had shown a dramatic decline in public support for the union, as it had become identified with government policy.· That increase ended a dramatic decline from 2. 7 million metric tons in May 1994.· This recorded a dramatic decline in the total number of poor, largely due to the implementation of the Beveridge Report in 1948.
· The importance of this role is likely to be greater in times of economic decline.· But some economists said they feared productivity might taper off dramatically this year as economic growth declines.· In the context of the debate about the curriculum, economic decline and supposedly falling educational standards were important elements.· Now, however, the great Latin cities fell prey to widespread depopulation, economic decline, and physical decay.· It has presided over our economic decline for decades and even now is failing to reverse it.· Despite the urgent need to halt economic decline, neither has a clearly defined policy.
· Their deteriorating physical and mental health offers only the prospect of further decline and the ultimate sentence of old age - death.· A further decline in real wages, benefits, and working conditions.· The continuing fighting in 1990 had meant a further decline in the country's food supply.· Further change reinforced by acceleration of women's real wage growth led to a further decline after 1970.· He fears a further decline in peasant confidence in the Bolsheviks.· Repeated use is perceived as necessary in order to survive, yet at the same time it contributes to further decline.· Relaxation or withdrawal of treatment before mid-childhood has been associated with a further decline in intellectual ability.· He will want to avoid a further decline for fear that import price rises will push up inflation.
· Superimposed upon this will be a general decline in performance due to loss of sleep and fatigue.· Hence, the investor is partially shielded from the full force of any general market decline.· National statistics show there has been a general decline in Britain's urban population.· There was muttering too in the universities about a general decline in standards of literacy and numeracy among undergraduates.· I'd prefer to speak about a general decline in capacity.· There was a general decline in performance as the weight of letter increased!· A less noticeable but ultimately more crucial problem was a general decline in profitability.
· General cargo continued to flow through the port but there was a gradual decline in dock activity.· The underlying assumption is that gradual hormonal decline is bad because some physical functions decline at the same time.· The gradual decline and progressively more severe consequences are not predictable.· Instead, we will see a gradual decline of direct supervision as teams mature.· The gradual decline of the latter adversely affected the congregation.· I have seen the gradual decline.· Because tuberculosis affects women more than men, the gradual decline of that disease benefited female survival.· In contrast, there has been a gradual decline in local authority provision.
· Sunderland is in the Northern region which has endured industrial decline for much of the twentieth century.· They came to roost in the late 1960s in the form of industrial decline and regional decay.
· Agriculture is an extensive activity with dispersed employment, but this sector has seen the largest decline.· The two largest declines came in engineering and general and administrative expenses.· The largest declines were in textiles, tobacco, chemicals, rubber, paper and food.· February crude dropped 88 cents to $ 18. 79 a barrel, the largest decline since March 28, 1994.· Killer whales had also suffered a large decline in numbers.· Intuit Inc. shares posted the largest decline in the index, falling almost 17 percent this week.· The catalyst for this rebound in prices: large declines in stockpiles of the metal registered with New York Mercantile Exchange warehouses.
· Significantly, both escaped the long pre-Reformation decline of saints generally.· Expensive state subsidies cushioned but could not reverse Yucatan's long decline.· A department devoted to organizing new unions had already been set up to reverse the long decline in membership.· Total employed labour on farms fell by six percent continuing the long term trend decline.· The outbreak of the Second World War marked the turning point in Midland's fortunes and the start of a long decline.· The agricultural labour force continued its long term decline to just under 27,000, nearly two percent fewer than in 1991.· Since then there has been a long decline.· Yet this final dissolution was the culmination of a long decline.
· Indeed, the overall declines in civic engagement are somewhat greater among housewives than among employed women.· Manufacturers say the overall decline in car sales could have serious consequences for the motor industry as a whole.· The overall and accelerating decline in the manufacturing sector and its sub-groups from the mid 1960s stands out.
· The disease does not go away if one ignores it: progressive decline is inexorable.· The result is a progressive decline in physical abilities.· The progressive decline in the course of addictive disease follows similar patterns in differing individual sufferers.
· This results, even in steady state, in a rapid decline in serum concentrations.· Other factors besides family planning account for such rapid declines.· That's quite a rapid decline.· Then competition with Mission Valley shopping centers and suburban residential growth prompted a rapid decline.· Her husband was told to expect that she would have a fairly rapid decline and would probably die within eighteen months.· Through their research the class know that no railway will mean rapid decline.· Then they began their mysterious and rapid decline.
· As a consequence the recent decline in public spending on services, such as education, has gone virtually unchecked.· Supplies of natural gas are tight, with prices rising as growing demand bumped up against recent production declines.· A recent decline in the numbers occurring is apparent.· The recent price declines they say have been fueled by them unwinding those bets.· Despite the recent decline in interest, there were several radio telescopes set to receive the signal when it came.· Indeed, the recent decline in spatial mobility means that daily life is increasingly limited to relatively small regions.· Unfortunately, there are reasons for pessimism and the recent declines in infectious disease mortality rates may reverse.
· This amounts to a relative frequency decline of over 50%.· This label reflects the apparent concentration of power in executives and the relative decline of legislatures' powers.· But relative decline is used as an indicator by some; and output can be used as a measure rather than employment.· An empirical test of the relative decline of legislative power is especially difficult.· Explanation of Britain's relative economic decline in the third quarter of the twentieth century remains elusive.· First of all, are we talking of relative or absolute decline?· A decline in the national importance of industry must also, however, induce relative decline in industrial regions.
· With bigger fish in serious decline, mackerel, sardines and anchovies are now the main targets.· In the last two islands, it is in serious decline, with only 500 left in all of Java.· The combination of so many factors contributed to a serious decline in the contracts on offer.· During that time, however, civilised inter-state standards went into serious decline.· Aside from Tarantino, the decade also brings a serious decline in repertory programming and opportunities for importing foreign films.· A serious decline of leadership in local affairs compounds the difficulty.· Yet elsewhere in the country there has been a serious decline in the amount of sport in schools.
· The measures are designed to halt the sharp decline in shark populations caused by overfishing in recent years.· February gasoline suffered a sharper decline, down 1. 83 cents at 58. 65 cents a gallon.· This led to an especially sharp decline during the 1960s, from over half a million to well under 300,000.· But most of all, it implies a sharp decline in domestic investment.· In the 1720s the use of walnut went into sharp decline and it was replaced by mahogany.· The evidence pointed to a sharp decline in guerrilla prowess.· The sharp decline was blamed on fears over the falling yen and over-valued stock prices on the Tokyo stock exchange.· Their desperate attempts to cut expenditure in any way they could led to a sharp decline in print quality.
· There was a significant decline in concentrations of sulphates in rainwater at 26 of 33 sites monitored from 1980 to 1991.· A significant fertility decline has also been recorded, most of it attained before the enactment of the one-child policy.· In the national context this is a good record, and shows no significant decline from the 1960s.· However, if there would be a significant decline in her income stream, you would want to make much greater adjustments.· Yet the seventies saw a very significant decline in long-term debenture financing.· Lizards which lost two thirds or more of the length of their tails showed a significant decline in dominance.· This was much higher than pre-war figures, and there seemed little prospect, on existing policies, of any significant decline.
· Against all reason they felt it could turn his slow decline around like a Lourdes' miracle.· Some patients experience a slow decline in their health as the effectiveness of the drugs gradually decreases.· Instead the planners condemned many villages to long, slow, lingering decline.· The growth of a taste for retrospective nostalgia accompanied the slow decline of traditional faith.· In both men and women muscle mass peaks between ages 30 and 35 and then begins a slow decline.· Ever since then his popularity here has continued a slow, steady decline.
· This trend reflects a steady decline in the teenage marriage rate since 1970.· Television has contributed to the steady decline of solemnity in the courtroom.· Smoking is on a steady decline among both men and women - but men pack up at a faster rate than women.· Despite increases in yield per acre, that has led to a steady decline in the amount of dates harvested.· When Lord Leverhulme abandoned Lewis, the crofting villages seemed doomed to a steady decline and eventual extinction.· The study also notes a steady decline in the number of college students taking political science courses or enrolling in law schools.· From the post-war years until the mid-1960s it had experienced steady decline.· This suggests that schizophrenics are facing a slow but steady neurodegenerative decline over time, the researchers said.
· Early in 1982, before El Chichón erupted, a steep decline in temperature set in.· Their steep decline has given grim satisfaction to their legions of detractors.· London shares dropped sharply, dragged down by steep declines on Wall Street Tuesday and in early dealings yesterday.· And the new geography of this steeper decline can be picked out from Table 2.2.· More recently there has been a steep decline in the support for political union.
· Mrs Holloway says that she's sad that a once great industry now seems to be in terminal decline.· Beyond electoral matters, there was growing belief that, for long-term sociological and historical reasons, Labour was in terminal decline.· Those are not the statistics of an industry in terminal decline.· But it does happen, and I venture to suggest should happen wherever there is apparently terminal decline.· This is more than can be said for the ever-decreasing Daily Mirror and Daily Express, both in terminal decline.· That third-world economy with a super-power arsenal could be in terminal decline.· After appearing to be in terminal decline the monarchy is back in business.· It is important to emphasise that older people should not be regarded enmasse as ill, frail or in terminal decline.
· It is these negative characteristics which, it has been argued, lie behind the problems of urban decline.· The need now was for urban policies that matched the new challenges posed by the economics of urban growth and decline.· It refers to urban decline and work on rural and coastal areas.· One influential argument about urban decline has been put forward by Fothergill and Gudgin and their associates.· Very similar debates arose in the discussion of urban decline.· Too often regional issues are neglected in an attempt to understand and to moderate urban decline.
NOUN· These differentials give us important clues about the motivation and causes of the fertility decline.· A significant fertility decline has also been recorded, most of it attained before the enactment of the one-child policy.· In his latest book on fertility decline, J.A. Banks dismisses the argument that fertility control results from economically rational behaviour.· Research compiled by the Population Council indicates that abortion has contributed to without being indispensable to, fertility declines in every region.· Many of the classic economic and social indicators of fertility decline had been present for a long time in nineteenth-century Britain.· But in most the pace of fertility decline has diminished since the early l980s.· Legal abortion Legal abortion in Britain since 1967 came too late to explain the beginning of fertility decline.· These are tempting explanations for fertility decline.
· No longer was it to look for signs of forest decline, it was to investigate a link between pollution and forest decline.· The conundrums surrounding forest decline were many.· By the mid-1980s well over a hundred hypotheses had been put forward to explain the forest decline.
· After a century of population decline, only 4,000 of Britain's estimated 25,000 pairs of barn owls live in the wild.· As mentioned in the previous section, there are sound reasons for the slowdown in big-city population decline.· The post-war concern about population decline and the high infant mortality rate contributed to the introduction of the Midwives Act 1902.· Almost every hare during a population decline is killed by a predator and the few survivors suffer much stress.
VERB· The losses which the decline in consumer demand initially entails will cause a decline in the demand for resources in that industry.· They say they can not prove the liberalisation of trade and capital flows has caused the decline in progress.· Arguments about what caused the decline in mortality shift between eighteenth- and later nineteenth-century changes.
· Despite the continuing decline in the workforce there has not been a corresponding reduction in the number of tractors found on farms.· Cities that neglected economic development or failed to provide effective programs would experience continued decline.· Second, pressure on older workers to leave the workforce early may continue despite the decline in the number of young workers.· What links them is the continuing decline of values in this country.
· From the 1840s child and young adult mortality contributed most of the decline.· Television has contributed to the steady decline of solemnity in the courtroom.· Repeated use is perceived as necessary in order to survive, yet at the same time it contributes to further decline.· Glow-of-Television Connections Television often gets blamed for contributing to the decline of family life.· It has contributed to the decline in direct portfolio investment as opposed to indirect investment through tax exempt institutions.· The Salmon and Trout Association believe that the use of driftnets is contributing to the decline.· Institutionally cultivated individual career strategies for organizational dominance contribute to organizational decline.· Farm shops may also have contributed to this decline in the local store.
· Rural areas did experience employment decline.· Some patients experience a slow decline in their health as the effectiveness of the drugs gradually decreases.· From the post-war years until the mid-1960s it had experienced steady decline.· When a business experiences such a decline of market share, alarms go off.· Students were experiencing a sense of decline, both in terms of material and social positions, a form of downward social mobility.· Growth mutual funds experienced a similar decline.· One further aspect needs to be mentioned for churches which have experienced prolonged decline.· If you are here to find out if we are experiencing maple decline, the answer is yes.
· We recognize that a collection of factors explain the decline of the Liberal party 1906-24.· But how does that explain Sara's terrible decline?· There may be other ways of explaining the decline of the Liberal party in this period.· On balance contestability has increased, partly explaining the decline in profitability.· How do you explain the decline of the Liberal party?· By the mid-1980s well over a hundred hypotheses had been put forward to explain the forest decline.
· Sheep numbers fell but the decline was small.
· This was followed by a decline and then a second smaller peak in serum transaminase activities.· That surge followed a decline from a high of 193 since 1991.· But this success was followed by a decline in the vitality of this civilization.· Branch membership also remained steady, following a period of decline since the immediate post-war years.
· Moreover, it will lead to a decline in the ratio of surplus-value to the capital that is advanced.· In Wellington, stocks ended lower, with forestry issues leading the decline, as recent overseas interest dropped off.· The frustrations of voters who feel they are not being represented has led to a decline in turn out.· In capitalism booms lead to booms and declines feed upon declines.· The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 23.89 points to 2752.13, with advancing issues leading declines by about eight to seven.· Despite increases in yield per acre, that has led to a steady decline in the amount of dates harvested.· In forestry, these chemicals can lead to a decline in water quality and to declines in aquatic fauna and flora.
· Seattle, with a 10 percent drop, was among the few reporting a decline in food requests.· Only specialist food, furniture and carpet retailers reported a decline in sales from a year earlier.· Instead of the record profits promised to investors, Kodak reported double-digit declines.
· It proposes tough penalties for industries which cause water pollution to help reverse the decline.· Expensive state subsidies cushioned but could not reverse Yucatan's long decline.· It is hoped that the multi-million pound facelift will reverse decades of decline for the shopping area in Liverpool city centre.· A department devoted to organizing new unions had already been set up to reverse the long decline in membership.· However, both the lack of growth and the failure to reverse the decline in work opportunities also carry serious political implications.· The reforms are designed to reverse the drastic decline in the Party's support.· Last year's return to democracy has scarcely begun to reverse the country's decline.· How man is trying to reverse the decline.
· Subsidence claims showed marked decline, but theft claims continue to rise.· In fact analysis of the records shows a steady decline since about 1956.· An item from the recent corporate survey shows an 8 % decline in employee ratings of supervisor fairness and absence of favoritism.· It shows the decline in economic activity by men over school leaving age from 88% in 1951 to 77% in 1981.· But there has been no showing of a decline in savings for these purposes.· They were, though, marginally the more inventive in a game that showed signs of decline from the early stages.· The balsam fir, which had not shown much decline prior to 1986, also began to be diminished.
· Across a range of industries, major innovations are implemented in attempts to stem the decline in profits.· The company this year announced a reorganization aimed at stemming the profit decline.· What is the best way of stemming this decline or, even better, of regenerating the economy?· In order to stem the decline, it was suggested that the trade must change its image and recruit younger drinkers.· The government requested international assistance to support the balance of payments and to stem the decline in international reserves.
· Their social position also appeared to suffer a decline as education entered a period of crisis.· Bonds peaked in January, and suffered a big decline since then.· Thereafter its fortunes suffered a steep decline.· February gasoline suffered a sharper decline, down 1. 83 cents at 58. 65 cents a gallon.· An area several times as large is suffering a decline in productivity as it is degraded by overuse.· The individual producer or worker might, at any time, suffer a sudden decline in his fortunes.· It too has suffered a long-term decline in the manufacturing industry combined with an accelerating boom in the service sector.· The same regions that once benefited from growth in these industries have, subsequently, suffered economic decline and depression.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a decrease in the quality, quantity, or importance of somethingdecline in- After appearing to be in terminal decline the monarchy is back in business.
- Beyond electoral matters, there was growing belief that, for long-term sociological and historical reasons, Labour was in terminal decline.
- But it does happen, and I venture to suggest should happen wherever there is apparently terminal decline.
- It is important to emphasise that older people should not be regarded enmasse as ill, frail or in terminal decline.
- Mrs Holloway says that she's sad that a once great industry now seems to be in terminal decline.
- That third-world economy with a super-power arsenal could be in terminal decline.
- This is more than can be said for the ever-decreasing Daily Mirror and Daily Express, both in terminal decline.
- Those are not the statistics of an industry in terminal decline.
There has been a decline in the size of families.decline of the decline of manufacturingrapid/sharp/steep/dramatic decline a rapid decline in unemploymentsteady/gradual/long-term decline The island’s population initially numbered 180, but there was a gradual decline until only 40 people were left. the economic decline faced by many citiesin decline/on the decline (=falling) the widely held belief that educational standards are in declinefall/go etc into decline (=become less important, successful etc) The port fell into decline in the 1950s.COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 2adjectivessharp/steep (=by a large amount)· The higher prices caused a sharp decline in sales.rapid (=fast)· We noticed a rapid decline in his health.dramatic (=extremely fast, and by a large amount)· The last three years have seen a dramatic decline in the number of tigers in the area.marked (=very noticeable)· Hunting led to a marked decline in bird numbers.gradual· After 1870, there was a gradual decline of the disease.steady/progressive (=gradual but continuous)· There has been a steady decline in club membership.a long-term decline (=happening for a long time)· The long-term decline in the manufacturing industry is still continuing.economic/industrial etc decline· This area has been severely affected by long-term industrial decline.verbscause/lead to a decline· The use of agricultural chemicals has led to a decline in water quality.go/fall into decline (=become less important, successful etc)· At the beginning of the century the cloth trade was going into decline.suffer a decline· The firm suffered a sharp decline in its profits.stop/halt a decline (=stop it from continuing)· These measures are intended to halt the decline in fish populations.reverse a decline (=make something start to improve again)· The main aim is to reverse the decline of the world’s environment.see a decline (=used to say that a decline happens at a particular time or in a particular place)· The 20th century saw a steady decline in the rural population.decline1 noundecline2 verb
declinedecline2 ●●○ W3 AWL verb WORD ORIGINdecline2
Origin:
1300-1400 French décliner, from Latin declinare ‘to turn aside, inflect’VERB TABLE
decline
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | decline |
| he, she, it | declines | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | declined |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have declined |
| he, she, it | has declined | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had declined |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will decline |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have declined |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am declining |
| he, she, it | is declining | |
| you, we, they | are declining | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was declining |
| you, we, they | were declining | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been declining |
| he, she, it | has been declining | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been declining |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be declining |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been declining |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A security officer at the factory, who declined to give his name, said he had seen two men leave the building.
- Computer sales declined 2.1 percent this year.
- Ed asked me to run the new division for them, but I declined.
- I asked Mr Hughes if he was satisfied with the jury's verdict but he declined to comment.
- Mr Casey regrets that he will have to decline your kind invitation owing to a prior engagement.
- Riker, a radio preacher, saw his popularity decline after World War II.
- The bishop was invited to attend the opening ceremony, but he declined.
- The pilot declined medical treatment after the accident.
- The Prime Minister was asked for his opinion but declined to comment.
- Water quality is declining due to too many dams and pumps.
- When asked to comment on details of the agreement, the President declined.
- A State Department spokesman, also displaying a talent for diplomacy, declined to characterize the appointment as a promotion.
- Defence equipment's share of sales, if not yet profit, is declining.
- He declined to comment on the time frame for another discount rate cut.
- In the early 1970s some of these movements began to decline or were suppressed, but others continued to flourish.
- Sir Alfred's interest was declining and Louis Stanley, his brother-in-law, was playing a bigger part.
- The brokerage declined to give a forecast for the full year through March.
- The cultural and intellectual calibre of the clergy has since declined, while intolerance and aggressiveness are on the increase.
THESAURUS
to become less in number or amount: · The average rainfall has decreased by around 30 percent.
to decrease. Go down is less formal than decrease and is the usual word to use in conversation: · Unemployment has gone down in the past few months.
formal to decrease – used with numbers or amounts, or about the level or standard of something: · The standard of living has declined.· Support for the government is steadily declining.· Salaries have declined by around 4.5%.
to become smaller or less important: · Union membership diminished from 30,000 at its height to just 2,000 today.
to decrease, especially by a large amount. Fall and drop are less formal than decrease: · The number of tigers in the wild has fallen to just over 10,000.· At night, the temperature drops to minus 20 degrees.
to suddenly decrease very quickly and by a very large amount: · Share prices have plummeted 29% in the last four months.· Climate change could cause global temperatures to plummet.
if a price or value slides, it gradually decreases in a way that causes problems – used especially in news reports: · The dollar fell in late trading in New York yesterday and slid further this morning.
to gradually decrease until there is very little left of something, especially numbers or amounts, popularity, or importance: · Support for the theory is dwindling.
if a number or the amount of an activity that is happening tapers off, it gradually decreases, especially so that it stops completely: · Political violence tapered off after the elections.
to become worse: · Air quality is rapidly deteriorating in our cities.· Living conditions here have deteriorated in the past few years.
to become worse. Get worse is less formal and more common than deteriorate in everyday English: · My eyesight seems to be getting worse.· He’s never been well-behaved, but he’s getting even worse.
to become gradually worse – used especially about the standard of something: · The hotel’s gone down since its management changed.· Nick’s teachers say that his work has gone down recently.
to become much worse and be in a very bad condition, especially after a particular time or event: · During the recession the business began to go downhill.· Her health went downhill rapidly after Christmas.
especially written to become gradually worse – used especially about standards of living, education, health etc: · After the war, the standard of living declined.· Over the years, the standard of public transport has declined.
formal to become worse, or to become something bad instead of something good: · Relations between the two countries have degenerated.· The debate degenerated into an argument between the two sides.
to become much worse very quickly – used especially about fighting, violence, or a bad situation: · Further violence could escalate into a full-scale armed conflict.· The political crisis escalated.
to become worse in a way that cannot be controlled and is extremely serious and worrying: · Police say that the violence has spiralled out of control.· Scientists are worried that global warming could soon spiral out of control.· Costs have been spiralling out of control.
to say firmly that you will not do something that someone has asked you to do: · I asked the bank for a loan, but they refused.· When they refused to leave, we had to call the police.
spoken to say that you will not do something when someone asks you: · They asked me so nicely that I couldn’t really say no.
to refuse to accept an offer or invitation, or a formal request: · They offered me the job but I turned it down.· The board turned down a request for $25,000 to sponsor an art exhibition.· I’ve already been turned down by three colleges.
to refuse to accept an idea, offer, suggestion, or plan: · They rejected the idea because it would cost too much money.· The Senate rejected a proposal to limit the program to two years.
formal to politely refuse to accept an offer or invitation, or refuse to do something: · She has declined all offers of help.· A palace spokesman declined to comment on the rumours.
to refuse to allow someone to do something or enter somewhere: · They were denied permission to publish the book.· He was denied access to the US.
to officially refuse to allow a law or plan, or to refuse to accept someone’s suggestion: · Congress vetoed the bill.· The suggestion was quickly vetoed by the other members of the team.
to officially refuse to accept something because someone has broken the rules, or not done it in the correct way: · The goal was disallowed by the referee.· The court decided to disallow his evidence.
formal to refuse to accept someone’s offer, request, or suggestion: · The company raised its offer to $6 billion, but was rebuffed.· He was politely rebuffed when he suggested holding the show in Dublin.
informal to refuse to allow or accept a plan or suggestion: · The plan was given the thumbs down by the local authority.· They gave us the thumbs down.
Longman Language Activatorto say that you will not do something to tell someone firmly that you will not do something they asked you to do: · I asked Stevie if she would help us, but she refused.refuse to do something: · If they refuse to leave, call the police.· The church refused to give legitimacy to the new state.flatly refuse (=refuse without explanation in a way that seems unreasonable): · Mother flatly refused to see the doctor.
when someone refuses to do something that they have been asked to do: · He was upset by her refusal.· His request for a bigger room met with a blunt refusal.refusal to do something: · She must understand the consequences of her refusal to accept medical treatment.· Refusal to do military service was a criminal offence.
especially spoken to tell someone that you will not do what they asked you to do: · I asked Dad to lend me some money, but he said no.say no no: · They asked me so nicely, I couldn't really say no to them.
especially spoken if someone will not or won't do something that they have been asked to do or told to do, they are determined not to do it: · He won't do anything that I ask him to do.· I won't sign the contract unless they offer me more money.
to refuse to do something - use this when you think it is wrong or unfair that anyone should expect you to do something: · I'm not prepared to wait any longer.· The landlord says that he is not prepared to pay for the repairs.
to allow certain things, but feel that you must refuse when a particular point is reached: · Our rules about time-keeping are fairly flexible, but we have to draw the line somewhere.draw the line at: · I don't mind your brother coming to stay, but I draw the line at him moving in!
formal to politely refuse to do what someone has asked you to do, especially when they have asked for your opinion or asked for information: · When asked to comment on details of the agreement, the President declined.decline to do something: · A security officer at the factory, who declined to give his name, said he had seen two men leave the building.· I asked Mr Hughes if he was satisfied with the jury's verdict but he declined to comment.
to reject an offer or suggestion to say no very firmly to an offer or suggestion. Reject is more formal than not accept and say no: · Lauren rejected her parents' offer of financial help.· She rejected the idea that she should sue him.· The Secretary of State offered his resignation, which the President promptly rejected.
to say no to an offer or invitation, especially because you think it would not be right to accept it: · She's given us all this stuff and she won't accept any money for it.· I decided not to accept their invitation.· Laney wouldn't accept what he considered an insulting pay offer.
especially spoken not accept an offer or suggestion: · I asked him if he wanted a drink, but he said no.· I'll offer to buy it from her, but I expect she'll say no.say no to: · Mrs. Hill, still mentally alert, said no to any suggestions of further operations.
to say you do not want something that you have been offered: · The offer was so good how could I refuse?· He never refuses a drink, does he?refuse to do something: · Ms. Knight refused to accept the manager's apology.flatly refuse: · He flatly refuses any offers of financial help.
to say no to an offer - use this especially when someone refuses a good offer or opportunity, and this is surprising: turn somebody/something down: · They offered her a really good job, but she turned it down.· He said he'd help her with her training, but she turned him down.turn down somebody/something: · If you turn down the opportunity to go to college, you'll always regret it.
formal to say no politely when someone invites you to do something: · Mr Casey regrets that he will have to decline your kind invitation owing to a prior engagement.· The bishop was invited to attend the opening ceremony, but he declined.decline to do something: · The Prime Minister was asked for his opinion but declined to comment.
spoken use this to tell someone that you cannot accept their invitation at the time they have suggested, but would like to do it at some time in the future: · "How about dinner tonight?" "Sorry -- I'll have to take a rain check on that."
to become worse · The food here gets worse every day.· My eyesight must be getting worse.· I don't think things can get much worse!get worse and worse · The tension in the flat got worse and worse, and Kate thought about moving out.· Paul's behaviour seems to get worse and worse.
formal to gradually become worse: · If the dispute drags on, conditions in the city could deteriorate.· The US trade position has deteriorated over the past few years.deteriorate rapidly: · Air quality is rapidly deteriorating in our cities.deteriorate to the level/point/stage where . . . (=to deteriorate so much that a particular problem is caused): · School buildings have deteriorated to the point where they pose a health threat to both students and teachers.
to become gradually worse - use this especially about the quality or standard of something: · He's been very unhappy and depressed recently, and his work has definitely gone down.· The quality of life for pensioners in this country has certainly declined recently.go right down British: · The standard of service has gone right down since the company was privatized.
if a bad situation worsens , or something worsens it, it becomes worse: · The weather worsened during the night.· The government's bungling attempts to help have only worsened the refugees' plight.· The situation was worsened by Roy's tendency to drink heavily in times of stress.
if a situation goes from bad to worse , it is already bad and then becomes even worse: · The rail service has gone from bad to worse since it was privatised.· Things went from bad to worse, and soon the pair were barely talking to each other.
to start getting worse, especially after a particular time or event: · Moving in together was a mistake, and things rapidly went downhill.· When things started to go downhill, Kyle began looking for another job.· I said I didn't like baseball, and the interview went downhill from then on.
if the quality of something suffers , it becomes worse as it begins to be affected by something: · His school work suffered because he was continually worried about his mother.· The ferry line denied that safety would suffer if costs were cut.· Her husband, a lawyer, suffered professionally for having to leave the office early every night.
if standards slip , they get worse, because people are not trying hard enough to keep the standards high: · Standards have slipped in the past few months, and we have to try and improve our performance.let things slip: · He used to make sure his apartment was in immaculate condition, but he's let things slip recently.
if a bad situation deepens , it gets worse - use this especially about serious political or military problems: · As the crisis deepened, it became clear that the government was losing control.· The company's legal and financial problems are deepening.
formal if a situation degenerates , it becomes much worse: · There's no denying that our relationship has degenerated over the years.degenerate into: · Attempts by the UK government to prop up the pound on the exchange markets degenerated into chaos.· What should have been a civilised debate degenerated into an unseemly row between the two sides.· Don't allow your comments to degenerate into a personal attack on the employee.
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COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Mary declined Jay’s invitation to dinner. The minister declined to comment (=refused to speak to people who report the news) about the progress of the peace talks.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Steiner lamented the lack of public interest in the issue. the progressive increase in population an attempt to stem the decline in profitsCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
Mary declined Jay’s invitation to dinner. The minister declined to comment (=refused to speak to people who report the news) about the progress of the peace talks.· Between these years there was a dramatic fall in youth employment.
(=the gradual decrease in an empire's power)· The next two hundred years saw the gradual decline of the Roman empire.
· Exports of gas and oil continued to fall while imports of raw materials have risen.
· There has been a decline in exports and an increase in oil prices.
(=one that is doing badly)· Coal and steel are declining industries in Britain.
(=becomes less successful)· The shipping industry declined after World War II.
Steiner lamented the lack of public interest in the issue.· The number of new houses being built is falling steadily.
(=say no to it)· She declined the offer of a lift.
· As fashions changed, their popularity declined.
· The population in many rural areas has continued to fall.
the progressive increase in population· These parasites cause a rapid decline in the health of the fish.
· His policies had reversed the decline in the economy.
· School inspectors say that educational standards have fallen.
· There has been a general decline in standards of literacy among undergraduates.
· The result has been a steady decline in membership.
an attempt to stem the decline in profits· Sperm quantity has also declined, by about 25 percent.· Doug Brown, counsel to the state auditor, also declined to discuss findings of the audit.· The quality of science teaching has also declined relative to other subjects.· A spokeswoman for Gingrich also declined comment.· Spending on information technology has also declined, demonstrating that the computer industry is no longer recession-proof.· Hatfield also declined to release the identities of the grand jurors.· The broader market also declined for a second day, behind disappointing earnings from Motorola Inc.· He also declined to answer a question about her future in the administration.
· The schools building programme ceased in 1985, and at that time too teachers' real salaries began to decline rapidly.· His health declined rapidly after treatment last summer.· In the absence of soil conservation, the productivity of these lands w ill inevitably decline rapidly.· Public concern over the popular cetacean has mounted as numbers have rapidly declined.· Four years of drought and rapidly declining business had left all five branches of the Inyo County Bank severely weakened.· The fertility rate of railway workers declined rapidly following the expansion of promotion hierarchies at the end of the century.· Both food and fur animals declined rapidly.
· This teaching function, though, declined sharply after 1380 with the establishment of Durham College at Oxford.· When retirement wealth is included, that share declines sharply from over 36 percent in 1929 to under 14 percent in 1976.· Parts and accessories sales declined sharply, reversing an earlier trend.· A Yankee Group study found that long-distance rates declined sharply from 1984 to 1991 as a result of new competition.· The proportion of out-of-wedlock births has increased so much mainly because the number of births to married couples has sharply declined.· But that is measured by the number of workers - which has declined sharply.· Indeed, the Soviet Union continues to decline sharply in importance.
· Labour's problem is that its core constituency in the manual working class has steadily declined over the years.· All the evidence shows that this declines steadily with increasing age.· It is one of several hormones that hit peak levels in the bloodstream in early adulthood and then decline steadily.· They are steadily declining in many rivers, and have vanished from others.· It initially got so-so ratings and then steadily declined from there.· Crowds during the decade declined steadily.· Once blacks saw that voting seemed to have limited effectiveness, black political participation steadily declined from l968 through 1975.
NOUN· This time the press and the media were there and I declined to make any comment on the negotiations.· Thursday said it had received a request for information, but declined further comment.· Mr Nind this week declined to make any comment.· A spokesman for Dean Witter declined comment.· A spokesman in London also declined comment.· Through a spokeswoman, Garcetti declined comment on the verdict.
· The revenue was never enough for this, and the Company began declining into bankruptcy much faster than before.· Separately, shares in forestry companies declined amid forecasts of a steep fall in cellulose prices, analysts said.· Craine says Rabbit has been in talks with various companies, but declined to comment any further.· The Schaumburg, Illinois, company blamed the earnings decline on lower prices and slower sales.· The stocks of several economically sensitive companies also declined.· Tonight the Chanel Company declined to comment.· The oil company declined to say how much more it might bump up prices to cover its costs.
· In this case there was no such evidence with the result that the court did not decline to hear the case.· A Supreme Court spokeswoman declined comment.· This fact provides another good reason why courts should decline to entertain polycentric disputes.· The Court declined to confine the term to persons of Romany origin.· In the hearing on December 18, the court declined to block the merger.· The second defendant had notified the Ohio court it would decline to submit to the jurisdiction.
· Mr Spicer declined to disclose details.· He declined to discuss details of Airbus's bid.· Isaacson declined to discuss details of financing a Quackenbush reelection campaign.· But he declined to provide many details, citing competitive concerns.· Mr Skubiszewski declined to go into detail, saying the agreement had yet to be accepted by both governments.· He said the weekly is profitable, but declined to disclose details.· The supervisor declined to provide further details.· He declined to give details, citing agreements with courts to keep this information confidential for the time being.
· He declined three or four invitations to parties.· Oh, she was tired and had taken to declining All invitations to feasts Due to the confusion Between cowboys and priests.· There won't be any Labour representation at the dinner, because the town's Mayor has now declined his invitation.· As he declined the invitation it is unnecessary to consider further what would have been the effect of such a joinder.· Neil Kinnock has again declined an invitation to brief the media's industry hacks at the Labour party conference.· I declined the invitation the only thoughts in my head were finding my bed to soothe away the aches and pains.· John Betjeman and Ted Hughes had both declined my invitation to do this.
· And although our markets are declining we have increased our market share in all sectors.· In the broader market, declining issues led advances 15-13 on volume of 675 million shares on the New York Stock Exchange.· At the same time, the main import markets continued to decline.· Another explanation was that the market has declined to a reasonable level.
· If the strategy was accepted, the report estimated that the number of poor could decline to 825 million by 2000.· The number of declining stocks outpaced the number of advancing issues on the New York Stock Exchange by about 12 to 11.· The numbers occurring have declined in recent years.· In some countries the numbers are even declining.· A number of older, declining central cities, particularly in the Northeast, fell into this group.· Rhino numbers have declined by 90 percent since the 1970s as a result of being hunted for their horn.· The number of declining stocks on the New York Stock Exchange outpaced advancing issues by 1, 160 to 1, 145.
· Such inconvenience pre-disposes young and old alike to decline both the offer and acceptance of joint occupancy.· Strangely, she declined my offer to send her a copy and said she would obtain one herself.· Fenn declined the offer to buy with a bemused wave of his hand.· Because he believes he can still play, Thompson declined the offer.· Not surprisingly, the defendant declined this offer.· Craig declined all job offers to coach or scout.· I quickly declined his offer by shaking my head and putting my hands above my head in mock surrender.· Citing security, officials have declined to offer specifics on how profiling would work.
· Federal Reserve officials declined to discuss Mr Greenspan's agenda yesterday.· Army officials declined Wednesday to say which factors led to the decision.· The official declined to name the nations or to provide an update on the nations' responses.· Administration officials have declined comment on the number or names of the guests, citing privacy concerns.· Tribal officials and attorneys declined to comment on the case.· Raytheon officials declined to discuss any bidding for the Hughes unit.· Pentagon officials declined to discuss their views and referred questions to the White House.· The official declined to provide more details.
· Between 1975 and 1984 total employment in the electronics sectors declined by 19 percent.· Investment rebounded, up 0. 2 percent in the quarter from a 0. 3 percent decline in the second quarter.· On Thursday, Bezeq declined 1 percent.· The largest group, 30 percent, declined to list an asset for Clinton or said they were unsure.· AnnTaylor continued to miss fashion trends and posted a 14 percent same-store sales decline.
· A third of wildcat populations had declined in recent years, and only 8 percent were increasing.· Over the same period, in the meantime, the net worth of half of the population actually declined.· The wintering population has declined considerably in recent years, but it is unlikely that breeding numbers have altered greatly since 1938.· As the heat builds up, the nematode population declines.· The rural population had declined from 38 percent in 1979 to 34 percent.· And by 1921 the population of Moscow had declined by one half and that of Petrograd by two-thirds.· The population is declining at the rate of 7 percent a year.· The breeding population has declined in recent years.
· If the volatility of futures prices rises as delivery approaches, the correlation between spot and futures prices will tend to decline.· He declined to comment on the purchase price.· However throughout the 1980s prices have declined in a glutted market.· But if prices decline, you stand to lose more as well.· Stocks in Bogota fell 0. 92 percent, while prices in Medellin declined 0. 20 percent.· Beef prices declined by about a quarter over the same period.
· As death rates have declined the proportion of elderly classed as married has increased while the proportion widowed has decreased.· The birth rate also continued to decline, though most slowly among the poorest.· The teen birth rate has declined for all ethnicities.· Since early August, the rates have declined by 0.3 per cent.· Turnover rates have declined, particularly for those employees considered by managers the best performers.· The fertility rate of railway workers declined rapidly following the expansion of promotion hierarchies at the end of the century.· Clinton and Riley predicted the student default rate will continue to decline as direct lending expands.
· The Rosyth spokesman declined to say what it was worth.· A NationsBank spokesman declined to say what title that person might hold.· A government spokesman declined to comment upon reports linking the resignation with the Ursus bankruptcy.· A spokesman for Limited declined to comment, noting that the company had just been served with a copy of the suit.· A spokesman for Mr Berlusconi declined to confirm or deny the reports.· Airline spokesmen declined to elaborate further Thursday.· A spokesman for Bigge Crane declined to comment yesterday.
· In further and higher education, the gap has also been declining in recent years.· His health had been declining for several years.· Numbers appear to have declined in recent years.· Work in factories in their declining years?· The numbers occurring have declined in recent years.· S unemployment rate has declined in recent years, the rate for blacks and Hispanic people is considerably higher than for whites.· Labour's problem is that its core constituency in the manual working class has steadily declined over the years.· But the number of infected animals has been declining in recent years.
VERB· The revenue was never enough for this, and the Company began declining into bankruptcy much faster than before.· Oil imports began to decline as domestic production began to increase.· Bad today, the situation will get worse when in a few years the number of potential recruits begins to decline.· By the close of 1955 polio began to decline.· Usually of use after the most marked initial swelling and tenderness has begun to decline.· As the 1960s ended and the wave of neo-oriental spirituality began to decline, the seekers began to look elsewhere.· The schools building programme ceased in 1985, and at that time too teachers' real salaries began to decline rapidly.· The Queretaro maquila project began in a declining economy, but ended in a crisis.
· Indeed, the Soviet Union continues to decline sharply in importance.· Several retailers continued to decline on weak sales.· Oil consumption will continue to decline due to efficiency improvements and switching to cheaper, cleaner power supplies such as electricity and gas.· Eggs Per capita egg consumption has continued to decline in the past decade.· The West Midlands continued to decline as a manufacturing region throughout the period, for instance.· Support for abortion rights, for example, continues to decline after peaking at 65 percent in 1990.· It may increase slightly but if fertility continues to decline at the present rate that is unlikely.· Clinton and Riley predicted the student default rate will continue to decline as direct lending expands.
· Arms production declined in 1989 and was expected to continue declining.· The ratio had been expected to decline only slightly from the preliminary 1. 14 reported for November.· In any case, he added ominously, Moscow expected exit requests to decline in the future.· Meanwhile, the number of F-22s the Air Force buys each year is expected to decline.· Energy supply is expected to have declined 2 percent, he said.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1decrease [intransitive] to decrease in quantity or importance: - After appearing to be in terminal decline the monarchy is back in business.
- Beyond electoral matters, there was growing belief that, for long-term sociological and historical reasons, Labour was in terminal decline.
- But it does happen, and I venture to suggest should happen wherever there is apparently terminal decline.
- It is important to emphasise that older people should not be regarded enmasse as ill, frail or in terminal decline.
- Mrs Holloway says that she's sad that a once great industry now seems to be in terminal decline.
- That third-world economy with a super-power arsenal could be in terminal decline.
- This is more than can be said for the ever-decreasing Daily Mirror and Daily Express, both in terminal decline.
- Those are not the statistics of an industry in terminal decline.
Spending on information technology has declined. Car sales have declined by a quarter. After the war, the city declined in importance.► see thesaurus at decrease2say no [intransitive, transitive] formal to say no politely when someone invites you somewhere, offers you something, or wants you to do something: Offered the position of chairman, Smith declined, preferring to keep his current job. Mary declined a hot drink and went to her room.decline an offer/invitation etc Mary declined Jay’s invitation to dinner.decline to do something The court declined to review her case. The minister declined to comment (=refused to speak to people who report the news) about the progress of the peace talks.► see thesaurus at refuse3become worse [intransitive] to become gradually worse in quality SYN deteriorate: Her health has been declining progressively for several months. Qualified staff are leaving and standards are declining.4somebody’s declining years formal the last years of someone’s life5grammar a)[intransitive] if a noun, pronoun, or adjective declines, its form changes according to whether it is the subject, object etc of a sentence b)[transitive] if you decline a noun, pronoun, or adjective, you show the various forms that it can take—declining adjective: declining attendance at baseball games