decline
Academic Word List, sublist 5.
About 28.97 uses per million words.
Meaning
- noun : Downward movement, fall.
The aircraft went into a sudden decline before the pilot regained control.
- noun : A sloping downward, e.g. of a hill or road.
After taking a right from that turn a decline will come into view.
- noun A deterioration of condition; a weakening or worsening.
He has experienced a sudden decline in his health.
- noun A reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity.
Population decline is a major concern.
- noun The act of declining or refusing something.
- verb To move downwards, to fall, to drop.
The dollar has declined rapidly since 2001.
- verb To become weaker or worse.
My health declined in winter.
- verb To bend downward; to bring down; to depress; to cause to bend, or fall.
Similar words
descent fall downslope wane diminution decay go down worsen refuse pass up
Often followed by
in of and to the was is from as
Word family
declinable declined decliner decliners declines declining
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