decline

[dɪˈklaɪn]

Definition:
1. Change toward something smaller or lower.
2. Grow worse.
3. Refuse to accept.
4. A gradual falling off from a better state.

Use 'decline' in a sentence:

• 1. Offered the position of chairman, Smith declined, preferring to keep his current job.
• 2. My initial reaction was to decline the offer.
• 3. He declined to give any information on the Presidential election.
• 4. After the war, the city declined in importance.
• 5. Her health declined rapidly and latterly she never left the house.
• 6. Fish stocks in the Baltic are in decline.
• 7. We need to take corrective action to halt this country's decline.
• 8. The government has twice declined to back the scheme.
• 9. The party presided over one of the worst economic declines in the country's history.
• 10. The nub of the matter is that business is declining.
• 11. After years of neglect and decline the city was cleaning itself up.
• 12. The company reported a small decline in its profits.
• 13. The government has failed to reverse the economic decline.
• 14. Support for the party continues to decline.
• 15. The town fell into (a) decline (= started to be less busy, important, etc.) after the mine closed.
• 16. An increase in cars has resulted in the decline of public transport.
• 17. Spending on information technology has declined.
• 18. The figures represent a general decline in employment.
• 19. Hourly output by workers declined 1.3% in the first quarter.
• 20. The decline in American Indian languages has historical roots.
• 21. If children were made to feel inferior to other children their confidence declined.
• 22. I offered to give them a lift but they declined.
• 23. The number of staff has declined from 217,000 to 114,000.
• 24. The closure of the mine was the single most important factor in the town's decline.
• 25. Even well-paid workers sensed their decline in status.
• 26. The industry has slid into decline.
• 27. One region is attempting to buck the trend of economic decline.
• 28. The industry is in terminal decline.
• 29. The customs figures show a steady decline in British trade.
• 30. Thankfully the smoking of cigarettes is on the decline.
• 31. The climate of political confusion has only reinforced the country's economic decline.
• 32. Libraries are an investment for the future and they should not be allowed to fall into decline.
• 33. Car sales have declined by a quarter.
• 34. After years of neglect and decline, the city was cleaning itself up.
• 35. JAMA predicts a further sales decline of 1.2 percent in 2008.
• 36. The first signs of economic decline became visible.
• 37. Her health was declining rapidly.
• 38. The number of tourists to the resort declined by 10% last year.
• 39. Her health has been declining progressively for several months.
• 40. This year can only see a repeat performance of the decline.
• 41. They failed to arrest the company's decline.
• 42. Down that path lies economic decline.
• 43. To decline to vote is a cop-out.
• 44. Inflation is rampant and industry in decline.
• 45. Mary declined a hot drink and went to her room.
• 46. At the current rate of decline, many of the rain forest animals could become extinct in less than 10 years.
• 47. Critics say that the new system may be more economic but will lead to a decline in programme quality.
• 48. Qualified staff are leaving and standards are declining.
• 49. The new system may be more economic but will lead to a decline in programme quality.
• 50. I think we can date the decline of Western Civilization quite precisely.
• 51. That's one explanation for the decline in traditional craftsmanship.
• 52. The species showed no significant decline in fecundity.
• 53. The Prime Minister declined to be interviewed.
• 54. Government penny-pinching is blamed for the decline in food standards.
• 55. Industry in Britain has been in decline since the 1970s.
• 56. But around 2012 these measures started to decline.
• 57. Their spokesman declined to comment on the allegations.