decline
Downward movement, fall.
Noun 4 meanings
Downward movement, fall.
“The aircraft went into a sudden decline before the pilot regained control.”
A sloping downward, e.g. of a hill or road.
“After taking a right from that turn a decline will come into view.”
A deterioration of condition; a weakening or worsening.
“He has experienced a sudden decline in his health.”
A reduction or diminution of activity, prevalence or quantity.
“Population decline is a major concern.”
Verb 4 meanings
To move downwards, to fall, to drop.
“The dollar has declined rapidly since 2001.”
To become weaker or worse.
“My health declined in winter.”
To bend downward; to bring down; to depress; to cause to bend, or fall.
To cause to decrease or diminish.
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).
Similar and opposite words
DECLINE at a glance
DECLINE has 7 letters and scores 10 points in Scrabble (D 2 + E 1 + C 3 + L 1 + I 1 + N 1 + E 1) and 13 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #3,548 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with decline
All rhymesOne letter away
- RECLINE9
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