decline verb (GO DOWN)
B2 [ I ] to gradually become less, worse, or lower:
The party's popularity has declined in the opinion polls.
More examples
- The latest opinion poll shows that the president's popularity has declined.
- Profits have declined as a result of the recent drop in sales.
- The levels of trade union and political activism in this country have greatly declined in the past 15 years.
- Her popularity has declined since her triumphal return from exile two years ago.
- Their economy has expanded enormously, while ours, by/in contrast, has declined.
decline verb (REFUSE)
B2 [ I or T ] formal to refuse:
He declined my offer.
[ + to infinitive ] They declined to tell me how they had obtained my address.
More examples
- When she was asked if she had any ambition to become prime minister, she respectfully declined to answer the question.
- A spokesperson declined to speculate on the cause of the train crash.
- The official declined to comment on the matter.
- Our application for a loan was declined by the bank.
- His request for early retirement was declined by his employers.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
decline verb (GRAMMAR)
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Idiom(s)
B2 when something becomes less in amount, importance, quality, or strength:
industrial decline
a decline in the number of unemployed
She seemed to be recovering and then she went into a decline.
More examples
- The country has been in a very poor economic state ever since the decline of its two major industries.
- My grandmother, as usual, lamented the decline in moral standards in today's society.
- The TV series will be axed owing to a decline in popularity.
- Orders for new ships are rising, after several years of steady decline.
- The new manager hoped to reverse the decline in the company's fortunes.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Becoming and making less strong
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