Decline: meaning, definitions and examples

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decline

[dɪˈklaɪn ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

grammar

To inflect or change the form of a word to indicate number, gender, case, or person. In English, verbs decline to show tense, person, number, and mood.

Synonyms

change form, conjugate, inflect.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
decline	This word is often used in language studies to describe the process of changing the form of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives to indicate number, case, or gender. In Latin, you need to learn how to decline nouns properly
inflect	This term is used in linguistics to talk about altering the form of a word to express different grammatical categories like tense, mood, voice, aspect, person, number, gender, and case. In English, verbs are inflected to indicate tense, such as 'work' becoming 'worked'
conjugate	This word is specifically used for changing the form of verbs to indicate tense, mood, voice, aspect, person, and number. In Spanish, you have to conjugate verbs differently depending on who is performing the action
change form	This phrase is very general and can be used in many different contexts beyond language studies whenever something is modified in shape or structure. You need to change the form of the verb according to the subject

Examples of usage

In Latin, verbs decline based on the number and person of the subject.
The teacher asked the students to decline the noun 'puella'.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

economics

A decrease or reduction in the value or quantity of something. It can refer to a decline in the stock market, economy, or overall performance.

Synonyms

decrease, downturn, reduction.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
decline	Use 'decline' for a gradual fall or lessening in strength, quality, or number over time, often in a general or abstract sense. There has been a decline in traditional crafting skills. The company's profits showed a noticeable decline last quarter.
decrease	Use 'decrease' when referring to a reduction in quantity, size, or intensity, typically in a more specific or measurable manner. There was a significant decrease in fuel consumption after the new policy was implemented. We need to find a way to decrease our monthly expenses.
reduction	Use 'reduction' to refer to the action or fact of making something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size, often in a practical or measurable sense. The new technology led to a reduction in production costs. The doctor suggested a reduction in sugar intake to improve health.
downturn	Use 'downturn' to describe a period of reduced economic or business activity, often associated with a negative trend. The country is facing an economic downturn due to political instability. The sudden downturn in the housing market caused a lot of financial strain.

Examples of usage

The decline in oil prices affected the country's economy.
There has been a decline in sales this quarter.

Translations

Translations of the word "decline" in other languages:

🇵🇹 declínio

🇮🇳 अस्वीकार

🇩🇪 Ablehnung

🇮🇩 penurunan

🇺🇦 відмова

🇵🇱 odmowa

🇯🇵 減少 (げんしょう)

🇫🇷 déclin

🇪🇸 declive

🇹🇷 düşüş

🇰🇷 감소

🇸🇦 انحدار

🇨🇿 pokles

🇸🇰 pokles

🇨🇳 下降 (xiàjiàng)

🇸🇮 upad

🇮🇸 hnignun

🇰🇿 төмендеу

🇬🇪 დაეცემა

🇦🇿 azalma

🇲🇽 declive

Etymology

The word 'decline' originated from the Old French word 'decliner', which came from the Latin 'declinare', meaning 'to turn aside, avoid, deviate'. The sense of 'move downward, sink' appeared in English in the late 14th century, while the meaning 'refuse, refuse politely' emerged in the early 15th century. Over time, 'decline' has evolved to encompass various meanings related to decrease, reduction, and inflection.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,170, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.

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2168 flight
2169 agriculture
2170 decline
2171 probability
2172 zero
2173 foundation
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