noun · verb · 26 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
dĭ-klīnʹ
/dɪˈklaɪn/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -aɪn
CMU ARPABET:D IH0 K L AY1 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Downward movement, fall.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The aircraft went into a sudden decline before the pilot regained control.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: descent
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A sloping downward, e.g. of a hill or road.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
After taking a right from that turn a decline will come into view.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A deterioration of condition; a weakening or worsening.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
He has experienced a sudden decline in his health.
Educational standards are on the decline.
The country's global reputation is in decline.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: descent
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
Population decline is a major concern.
Town-centre retailers have seen a decline in footfall.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
The act of declining or refusing something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
To move downwards, to fall, to drop.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
The dollar has declined rapidly since 2001.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To become weaker or worse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
My health declined in winter.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
To bend downward; to bring down; to depress; to cause to bend, or fall.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
To cause to decrease or diminish.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
verb
Meaning 10
To turn or bend aside; to deviate; to stray; to withdraw.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
a line that declines from straightness
conduct that declines from sound morals
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
verb
Meaning 11
To choose not to do something; refuse, forbear, refrain.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
On reflection I think I will decline your generous offer.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
verb
Meaning 12
To inflect for case, number, gender, and the like.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: declense
Antonyms: none provided
14
verb
Meaning 14
To run through from first to last; to recite in order as though declining a noun.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
verb
Meaning 15
To reject a penalty against the opposing team, usually because the result of accepting it would benefit the non-penalized team less than the preceding play.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
in many languages, speakers decline nouns, pronouns, and adjectives
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: inflect
24
verb
Meaning 24
go down in value
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the stock market corrected
prices slumped
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: slump, correct
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: descend, fall, go down, come down
25
verb
Meaning 25
go down
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The roof declines here
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: drop
Narrower terms: dip, sink
26
verb
Meaning 26
refuse to accept
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
He refused my offer of hospitality
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: refuse, reject, pass up, turn down
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: dishonor, dishonour, bounce
History
Etymology
From Middle English declinen, and ultimately Latin declīnō (“to bend, turn aside, deflect, inflect, decline”, from dē- (“down”) + clīnō (“to bend, to incline”)), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱley- (English lean). The senses arrived from two separate pathways in Middle English: * The grammatical sense came from Old English declīnian, which was borrowed directly from the Latin etymon. * All senses except the grammatical sense were derived from those of Old French decliner. Old French itself borrowed the verb from Latin.
Across languages
Translations
233 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
западане
(zapadane)
— downward movement, fall
Bulgarian:
упадък
(upadǎk)
— downward movement, fall
Catalan:
declivi
— downward movement, fall
Catalan:
caiguda
— downward movement, fall
Czech:
pokles
— downward movement, fall
Danish:
forfald
— downward movement, fall
Dutch:
terugval
— downward movement, fall
Dutch:
achteruitgang
— downward movement, fall
Dutch:
afname
— downward movement, fall
Finnish:
lasku
— downward movement, fall
Finnish:
pudotus
— downward movement, fall
French:
déclin
— downward movement, fall
Galician:
devalo
— downward movement, fall
German:
Sinken
— downward movement, fall
German:
Fall
— downward movement, fall
Hebrew:
נפילה
(nefilá)
— downward movement, fall
Hindi:
गिरावट
(girāvaṭ)
— downward movement, fall
Indonesian:
kejatuhan
— downward movement, fall
Indonesian:
kemerosotan
— downward movement, fall
Irish:
meath
— downward movement, fall
Irish:
meathlú
— downward movement, fall
Māori:
paheketanga
— downward movement, fall
Portuguese:
declínio
— downward movement, fall
Russian:
падение
(padenije)
— downward movement, fall
Bulgarian:
склон
(sklon)
— sloping downward
Dutch:
afname
— sloping downward
Dutch:
helling
— sloping downward
Finnish:
lasku
— sloping downward
Finnish:
alamäki
— sloping downward
German:
Gefälle
— sloping downward
Hebrew:
ירידה
(yeridá)
— sloping downward
Hindi:
गिरना
(girnā)
— sloping downward
Māori:
paheketanga
— sloping downward
Old English:
æfdȳne
— sloping downward
Portuguese:
declive
— sloping downward
Russian:
спуск
(spusk)
— sloping downward
Russian:
склон
(sklon)
— sloping downward
Swedish:
nedförsbacke
— sloping downward
Swedish:
utförsbacke
— sloping downward
Swedish:
medlut
— sloping downward
Azerbaijani:
tənəzzül
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Azerbaijani:
geriləmə
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Azerbaijani:
enmə
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Bulgarian:
влошаване
(vlošavane)
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Chinese Mandarin:
衰退
(shuāituì)
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Dutch:
verzwakking
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Dutch:
achteruitgang
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Dutch:
verval
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Dutch:
afname
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Finnish:
lasku
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Finnish:
heikentyminen
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Finnish:
alamäki
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
French:
déclin
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Galician:
devalo
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
German:
Abnahme
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
German:
Rückgang
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
German:
Schwächung
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Hebrew:
היחלשות
(hekhalshút)
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Hindi:
पतन
(patan)
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Hindi:
अधोगति
(adhogti)
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Hungarian:
hanyatlás
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Indonesian:
kemunduran
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Italian:
declino
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Middle English:
declin
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Norwegian Bokmål:
svekkelse
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Norwegian Bokmål:
tilbakegang
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Portuguese:
declínio
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Russian:
упа́док
(upádok)
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Spanish:
declive
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Spanish:
retroceso
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Spanish:
decadencia
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Spanish:
declinación
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Ottoman Turkish:
خراب
(harab)
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Ukrainian:
зане́пад
(zanépad)
— deterioration of condition; weakening or worsening
Dutch:
verval
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
Finnish:
lasku
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
Finnish:
pudotus
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
Finnish:
taantuminen
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
Finnish:
alasajo
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
German:
Entspannung
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
German:
Nachlassen
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
Norwegian Bokmål:
nedgang
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
Russian:
спад
(spad)
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
Russian:
сниже́ние
(snižénije)
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
Swedish:
tillbakagång
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
Swedish:
nedgång
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
Ukrainian:
спад
(spad)
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
Ukrainian:
зни́ження
(znýžennja)
— reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity
Finnish:
hylkääminen
— act of declining or refusing something
Finnish:
kieltäytyminen
— act of declining or refusing something
Bulgarian:
спадам
(spadam)
— move downwards
Bulgarian:
наклонявам се надолу
(naklonjavam se nadolu)
— move downwards
Catalan:
declinar-se
— move downwards
Czech:
klesat
— move downwards
Dutch:
afnemen
— move downwards
Dutch:
terugvallen
— move downwards
Dutch:
achteruitgaan
— move downwards
Dutch:
vervallen
— move downwards
Finnish:
laskea
— move downwards
Finnish:
pudota
— move downwards
German:
sinken
— move downwards
German:
fallen
— move downwards
Gothic:
𐌷𐌽𐌴𐌹𐍅𐌰𐌽
(hneiwan)
— move downwards
Hebrew:
ירד
(yarád)
— move downwards
Hindi:
गिरना
(girnā)
— move downwards
Indonesian:
merosot
— move downwards
Italian:
declinare
— move downwards
Māori:
tauheke
— move downwards
Māori:
tāharahara
— move downwards
Middle English:
declinen
— move downwards
Old English:
drēosan
— move downwards
Portuguese:
declinar
— move downwards
Romanian:
scădea
— move downwards
Russian:
спада́ть
(spadátʹ)
— move downwards
Swedish:
sjunka
— move downwards
Azerbaijani:
geriləmək
— become weaker or worse
Azerbaijani:
tənəzzül etmək
— become weaker or worse
Azerbaijani:
zəifləmək
— become weaker or worse
Bulgarian:
западам
(zapadam)
— become weaker or worse
Bulgarian:
влошавам се
(vlošavam se)
— become weaker or worse
Catalan:
debilitar-se
— become weaker or worse
Chinese Mandarin:
惡化 /恶化
(èhuà)
— become weaker or worse
Czech:
klesat
— become weaker or worse
Dutch:
afnemen
— become weaker or worse
Dutch:
achteruitgaan
— become weaker or worse
Dutch:
afzwakken
— become weaker or worse
Dutch:
verzwakken
— become weaker or worse
Finnish:
heikentyä
— become weaker or worse
Finnish:
heiketä
— become weaker or worse
French:
décliner
— become weaker or worse
French:
péricliter
— become weaker or worse
German:
abnehmen
— become weaker or worse
German:
zurückgehen
— become weaker or worse
Hebrew:
נחלש
(nekhlásh)
— become weaker or worse
Hindi:
पतन
(patan)
— become weaker or worse
Hungarian:
gyengül
— become weaker or worse
Hungarian:
hanyatlik
— become weaker or worse
Indonesian:
menurun
— become weaker or worse
Irish:
meath
— become weaker or worse
Irish:
meathlaigh
— become weaker or worse
Māori:
roroku
— become weaker or worse
Māori:
paheke
— become weaker or worse
Māori:
tupuheke
— become weaker or worse
Māori:
māwhe
— become weaker or worse
Māori:
tāmatemate
— become weaker or worse
Māori:
tāromaroma
— become weaker or worse
Middle English:
declinen
— become weaker or worse
Norwegian Nynorsk:
versna
— become weaker or worse
Norwegian Nynorsk:
forvitra
— become weaker or worse
Norwegian Nynorsk:
forfalla
— become weaker or worse
Portuguese:
declinar
— become weaker or worse
Russian:
ослабевать
(oslabevatʹ)
— become weaker or worse
Sanskrit:
भ्रंशते
(bhraṃśate)
— become weaker or worse
Scottish Gaelic:
rach bhuaithe
— become weaker or worse
Spanish:
periclitar
— become weaker or worse
Spanish:
declinar
— become weaker or worse
Spanish:
descaecer
— become weaker or worse
Swedish:
försämra
— become weaker or worse
Middle English:
declinen
— bend downward
Swedish:
sänka
— bend downward
Arabic:
رَفَضَ
(rafaḍa)
— refuse
Bulgarian:
отказвам
(otkazvam)
— refuse
Catalan:
declinar
— refuse
Catalan:
refusar
— refuse
Chinese Mandarin:
拒绝
(jùjué)
— refuse
Chinese Mandarin:
回絕 /回绝
(huíjué)
— refuse
Chinese Mandarin:
屏絕 /屏绝
(bǐngjué)
— refuse
Czech:
odmítnout
— refuse
Danish:
afvise
— refuse
Dutch:
afwijzen
— refuse
Dutch:
weigeren
— refuse
Finnish:
kieltäytyä
— refuse
French:
refuser
— refuse
French:
décliner
— refuse
German:
ablehnen
— refuse
German:
abschlagen
— refuse
Haitian Creole:
refize
— refuse
Hebrew:
דחה
(dakháh)
— refuse
Hebrew:
סירב
(serév)
— refuse
Hungarian:
elutasít
— refuse
Ido:
refuzar
— refuse
Indonesian:
menolak
— refuse
Italian:
declinare
— refuse
Italian:
rifiutare
— refuse
Latin:
abnegō
— refuse
Māori:
whakanau
— refuse
Māori:
whakahoe
— refuse
Māori:
whakapeka
— refuse
Norwegian:
avslå
— refuse
Norwegian:
avvise
— refuse
Portuguese:
declinar
— refuse
Portuguese:
recusar
— refuse
Russian:
отказать
(otkazatʹ)
— refuse
Serbo-Croatian:
о̀дбити
— refuse
Serbo-Croatian:
òdbiti
— refuse
Spanish:
rechazar
— refuse
Spanish:
declinar
— refuse
Swedish:
avstå
— refuse
Swedish:
avvisa
— refuse
Ukrainian:
відхиля́ти
(vidxyljáty)
— refuse
Ukrainian:
відхили́ти
(vidxylýty)
— refuse
Azerbaijani:
hallandırmaq
— inflect
Belarusian:
скланя́ць
(sklanjácʹ)
— inflect
Belarusian:
праскланя́ць
(prasklanjácʹ)
— inflect
Bulgarian:
скланям
(sklanjam)
— inflect
Chinese Mandarin:
變格 /变格
(biàngé)
— inflect
Czech:
skloňovat
— inflect
Dutch:
verbuigen
— inflect
Faroese:
benda (orð)
— inflect
Finnish:
taivuttaa
— inflect
French:
décliner
— inflect
Georgian:
ბრუნება
(bruneba)
— inflect
German:
deklinieren
— inflect
Hebrew:
היטה
(hitá)
— inflect
Hungarian:
ragoz
— inflect
Italian:
declinare
— inflect
Lithuanian:
linksniuoti
— inflect
Middle English:
declinen
— inflect
Norman:
dêclyinner
— inflect
Polish:
odmieniać (przez przypadki)
— inflect
Polish:
deklinować
— inflect
Portuguese:
declinar
— inflect
Romanian:
declina
— inflect
Russian:
склоня́ть
(sklonjátʹ)
— inflect
Scottish Gaelic:
claon
— inflect
Slovak:
skloňovať
— inflect
Slovene:
sklanjati
— inflect
Slovene:
deklinirati
— inflect
Spanish:
declinar
— inflect
Swedish:
deklinera
— inflect
Ukrainian:
відмі́нювати
(vidmínjuvaty)
— inflect
French:
décliner
— run through from first to last
French:
refuser
— American football or Canadian football: reject a penalty against an opposing team