decline

/di-ˈklīn/

Middle English, from Anglo-French decliner, from Latin declinare to turn aside, inflect, from de- + clinare to incline

verb

  1. to become less in amount

  2. to tend toward an inferior state or weaker condition

  3. to withhold consent

The price of the stock declined.

decline refuse reject repudiate spurn mean to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering. decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations. refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

noun

  1. the process of declining:

  2. a gradual physical or mental sinking and wasting away

  3. a change to a lower state or level

experiencing a mental decline

deterioration degeneration decadence decline mean the falling from a higher to a lower level in quality, character, or vitality. deterioration implies generally the impairment of value or usefulness. degeneration stresses physical, intellectual, or especially moral retrogression.

idiom

  1. to become less powerful, wealthy, etc.

There was a general feeling that the country was in decline.