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.

'decline' example 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.