2 entries found for decline.
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decline[1,verb] decline[2,noun]

Main Entry: ¹de·cline
Pronunciation: di-kln
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): de·clined; de·clin·ing
1 a : to slope downward : DESCEND b : to bend down <declined his head>
2 : to pass toward a lower state or level <his health declined> <their enthusiasm declined>
3 : to draw toward a close : WANE <the day declined>
4 : to become less in amount <prices declined>
5 a : to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to <declined to run for a second term> b : to refuse especially courteously <declined the invitation>
6 : to give the declension of a noun, pronoun, or adjective
- de·clin·able /-kl-n-bl/ adjective
synonyms DECLINE, REFUSE, REJECT mean to express unwillingness to go along with a demand or request. DECLINE suggests a polite negative response <decline an invitation to a party>. REFUSE suggests a forceful or absolute denial <refused to see him at all>. REJECT may suggest an unwillingness even to consider a demand or request <rejected her plan before she had finished speaking>.