Dictionary entry details
• DECLINE (noun)
Meaning:
Change toward something smaller or lower
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural processes
Synonyms:
decline; diminution
Hypernyms ("decline" is a kind of...):
decrease; decrement (a process of becoming smaller or shorter)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decline"):
slippage (decline from a standard level of performance or achievement)
sinking spell (a temporary decline in health or value)
nosedive (a sudden sharp drop or rapid decline)
loss (gradual decline in amount or activity)
erosion (a gradual decline of something)
ebb; ebbing; wane (a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number))
detumescence (diminution of swelling; the subsidence of anything swollen)
declension; decline in quality; deterioration; worsening (process of changing to an inferior state)
Meaning:
A condition inferior to an earlier condition; a gradual falling off from a better state
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Synonyms:
declination; decline
Hypernyms ("decline" is a kind of...):
condition; status (a state at a particular time)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decline"):
wreck (something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation)
twilight (a condition of decline following successes)
disuse; neglect (the state of something that has been unused and neglected)
Antonym:
improvement (a condition superior to an earlier condition)
Meaning:
A gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural processes
Synonyms:
decay; decline
Hypernyms ("decline" is a kind of...):
decrease; decrement (a process of becoming smaller or shorter)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decline"):
exponential decay; exponential return (a decrease that follows an exponential function)
Meaning:
A downward slope or bend
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)
Synonyms:
declivity; downslope; declination; declension; decline; fall; descent
Hypernyms ("decline" is a kind of...):
incline; side; slope (an elevated geological formation)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decline"):
downhill (the downward slope of a hill)
steep (a steep place (as on a hill))
• DECLINE (verb)
Meaning:
Grow worse
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
decline; worsen
Context example:
Conditions in the slum worsened
Hypernyms (to "decline" is one way to...):
change state; turn (undergo a transformation or a change of position or action)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decline"):
turn down (take a downward direction)
regress; retrograde; retrogress (get worse or fall back to a previous condition)
lose; suffer (be set at a disadvantage)
suffer; drop away; drop off; fall away; slip (get worse)
tumble (suffer a sudden downfall, overthrow, or defeat)
fail (get worse)
deprive; impoverish (take away)
degenerate; deteriorate; devolve; drop (grow worse)
come down; sicken (get sick)
inflame (become inflamed; get sore)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Sentence examples:
The stock market is going to decline
The business is going to decline
Meaning:
Refuse to accept
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Synonyms:
pass up; turn down; decline; refuse; reject
Context example:
He refused my offer of hospitality
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decline"):
dishonor; dishonour (refuse to accept)
bounce (refuse to accept and send back)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something from somebody
Sentence example:
They decline the money
Meaning:
Show unwillingness towards
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
refuse; decline
Context example:
he declined to join the group on a hike
Hypernyms (to "decline" is one way to...):
react; respond (show a response or a reaction to something)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decline"):
disobey (refuse to go along with; refuse to follow; be disobedient)
repudiate (refuse to recognize or pay)
regret (decline formally or politely)
contract out (refuse to pay a levy to a union for political use)
disdain; freeze off; pooh-pooh; reject; scorn; spurn; turn down (reject with contempt)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
Sentence example:
They decline to move
Meaning:
Grow smaller
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
wane; go down; decline
Context example:
Interest in the project waned
Hypernyms (to "decline" is one way to...):
decrease; diminish; fall; lessen (decrease in size, extent, or range)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decline"):
drop (go down in value)
wear on (pass slowly (of time))
dip (go down momentarily)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Go down
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Context example:
The roof declines here
Hypernyms (to "decline" is one way to...):
drop (to fall vertically)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decline"):
dip; sink (appear to move downward)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Meaning:
Go down in value
Classified under:
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming
Synonyms:
slump; decline; correct
Context examples:
the stock market corrected / prices slumped
Hypernyms (to "decline" is one way to...):
come down; descend; fall; go down (move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Inflect for number, gender, case, etc.,
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
in many languages, speakers decline nouns, pronouns, and adjectives
Hypernyms (to "decline" is one way to...):
inflect (change the form of a word in accordance as required by the grammatical rules of the language)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
