decline — to refuse something, usually politely
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to refuse something, usually politely
Pronunciation (IPA): /dɪˈklaɪn/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother politely declined to use smartphones, saying 'I decline your fancy decline device!'
- The vampire's health declined when he moved to a sunny beach town.
- The birth rate has been declining in many developed countries.
decline
VERB[/dɪˈklaɪn/]
to refuse something, usually politely
The town's population steadily declined as more families moved to bigger cities.
Climber politely says 'I'll de-climb this offer!' - refusing to climb
As the company's performance declined, the manager resigned, and the new leader redefined its future.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'declinare', meaning 'to bend down' or 'to turn away', composed of 'de-' (down) and 'clinare' (to bend or lean). The sense evolved through Old French to mean 'to refuse' or 'to decrease'.
Breakdown
de- (down, away) + -cline (to bend, lean, from Latin clinare) = decline (to bend away, refuse, or decrease)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
“He politely declined the job offer.”
“There was a sharp decline in temperature.”
“His health declined rapidly after the accident.”
“The country faced economic decline.”
“Customers noticed a decline in quality.”
📝Examples
“My grandmother politely declined to use smartphones, saying 'I decline your fancy decline device!'”
“The vampire's health declined when he moved to a sunny beach town.”
“The birth rate has been declining in many developed countries.”
“She declined to comment on the controversial issue.”
📚Related Words
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