Declining
/dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo become smaller, fewer, or less; to gradually diminish in size, number, strength, or value.
/dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/
To become smaller, fewer, or less; to decrease.
The number of students attending the university is declining.
💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite ice cream cone! If you let it sit in the sun, it starts to melt and get smaller and smaller. Declining is like that - it means something is going down or getting less.
👶 For kids: Getting smaller or going down, like the sun going down at night.
More Examples
His health was declining after the accident.
The population of the town is declining due to people moving away.
The company's profits have been declining for the past year.
How It's Used
"Sales are declining due to increased competition."
"The economy is declining, leading to job losses."
To politely refuse or reject an offer, invitation, or request.
/dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/
To refuse politely; to reject.
He declined the job offer after careful consideration.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone offers you a slice of cake, but you're full. You can 'decline' it, which means you politely say no.
👶 For kids: To say 'no thank you' in a nice way.
More Examples
She politely declined his offer of help.
The restaurant declined our reservation due to lack of space.
She declined the request for more information.
How It's Used
"She declined the invitation to the party."
"The committee declined the proposal due to budget constraints."
To slope or bend downwards; to slant or droop.
/dɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/
To slope or bend downward.
The sun was declining in the west.
💡 Simply: If something is declining, it's going down, like a hill or a road that goes downhill.
👶 For kids: Going downwards like a slide.
More Examples
The artist's head declined in his painting
The road began to decline sharply after the bridge.
The building's roofline appeared to be subtly declining on one side.
How It's Used
"The hillside was declining towards the river."
"The road surface was declining, facilitating drainage."
From Middle English *declinen*, from Old French *decliner* ("to slope down, turn aside, decline"), from Latin *dēclīnō* ("I turn aside, deviate, inflect"), from *dē-* ("down, away") + *clīnō* ("I bend, lean").
The word "decline" has been used since the 14th century. It originally meant 'to bend or slope downwards,' and then evolved to incorporate the sense of 'refusing' or 'decreasing'.
Memory tip
Think of the sun *declining* in the sky - getting lower, smaller, and dimmer.
Word Origin
"I turn aside, deviate, inflect; from dē- (down, away) + clīnō (I bend, lean)"