decline, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn mean to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering. decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.
DECLINE definition: to withhold or deny consent to do, enter into or upon, etc.; refuse. See examples of decline used in a sentence.
DECLINE meaning: 1. to gradually become less, worse, or lower: 2. to refuse: 3. If a noun, pronoun, or adjective…. Learn more.
To degrade or lower oneself; stoop: refused to decline to their level of behavior. 4. To deteriorate gradually; fail: His health has been declining for years. 5. a. To sink, as the setting sun. b. To draw to a gradual close: We made our way home as the day declined. 1. To refuse politely: I declined their offer of help. See Synonyms at refuse 1. 2.
Decline, refuse, forbear, refrain: Decline is gentler than refuse and carries a connotation that the non-acceptance is an acceptable or anticipated option (decline an invitation) or the result of a considered decision (the judge declined to grant the motion).
a downward movement, such as of prices or population:[countable] a decline in the stock market. a deterioration, such as in strength:[countable] a sudden decline in his health.
Social decline or moral decline is typically characterised as reduced adherence to cultural or social norms or values and widespread lapses in ethical behavior.
If you decline something or decline to do something, you politely refuse to accept it or do it.
When something declines, it goes downhill. If you stop working out, your health may decline. If you want it to improve, you should start climbing inclines instead of coasting down declines.