decline
/dɪˈklaɪn/ verb B2- 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.
- To turn or bend aside; to deviate; to stray; to withdraw. · a line that declines from straightness· conduct that declines from sound morals
- To choose not to do something; refuse, forbear, refrain. · On reflection I think I will decline your generous offer.
- To inflect for case, number, gender, and the like.
- To recite all the different declined forms of (a word): to recite its declension.
Plural decline · He/she/it declines · Past declined · Past participle declined · -ing form declining
Verb forms
- Base form
- decline
- He/she/it
- declines
- Past
- declined
- Past participle
- declined
- -ing form
- declining
From the library
The president himself advanced to place a seat for the young lady; but she declined availing herself of it.
“You must be aware, at all events, that it is impossible for me to understand motives before they are explained to me; but one thing at least is clear, which is, that you decline allying yourself with my family.”
“Perhaps you may know at some future period, and in the mean time I request you to excuse my declining to put you in possession of my reasons.”
The area door of Oberstein’s house had been left open the night before, and it was necessary for me, as Mycroft Holmes absolutely and indignantly declined to climb the railings, to pass in and open the hall door.
Other matches
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