- 1[intransitive] to become smaller, fewer, weaker, etc. Support for the candidate continues to decline. The number of tourists going to the resort declined by 10% last year. Her health was declining rapidly.
- 2[intransitive, transitive] (formal) to refuse politely to accept or to do something synonym refuse1 I offered to give them a ride but they declined. decline something to decline an offer/invitation She declined a second glass of wine and called a taxi. decline to do something Their spokesman declined to comment on the allegations.
- 3[intransitive, transitive] decline (something) (grammar) if a noun, an adjective, or a pronoun declines, it has different forms according to whether it is the subject or the object of a verb, whether it is in the singular or plural, etc. When you decline a noun, etc., you list these forms. compare conjugate Idioms
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NAmE//dɪˈklaɪn//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they decline he / she / it declines
past simple declined
-ing form declining
the last years of someone's life
Check pronunciation: decline