Decline - English meaning

idiom

Bar from attention or consideration

phrasal verb

Dismiss something as being unimportant or not worth consideration; disregard something.

Usage examples:

He brushed aside attacks on his policies

phrasal verb

To refuse to give importance to an opinion or request, or to someone who expresses one

Usage examples:

Duke brushed aside suggestions that his campaign was finished.

noun

A written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law.

Usage examples:

He has just signed a contract keeping him with the club

verb

Decrease in size, number, or range.

Usage examples:

Glass contracts as it cools

noun

A legal document that states and explains a formal agreement between two different people or groups, or the agreement itself

Usage examples:

She already has a contract for her next book with a publisher., i have no other contractual obligat…

verb

Make or become smaller or fewer in size, amount, intensity, or degree.

Usage examples:

The population of the area has decreased radically

noun

An instance or example of becoming smaller or fewer.

Usage examples:

A decrease in births

verb

To become smaller or make something less

Usage examples:

[ i ] car sales decreased sharply this year., i haven’t noticed any decrease in ticket sales.

noun

A reduction in the value of an asset over time, due in particular to wear and tear.

Usage examples:

Provision should be made for depreciation of fixed assets

noun

The amount by which something, such as a piece of equipment, is reduced in value in a company's financial accounts, over the period of time it has been in use. the loss in value reduces a company's profits, and the amount of tax it must pay

Usage examples:

Accelerated depreciation, expenses include depreciation of equipment as well as business insurance.…

noun

The process of losing value

noun

The reduction or underestimation of the worth or importance of something.

Usage examples:

The general devaluation of expertise in our culture

noun

A reduction in the value of a currency compared to others

Usage examples:

The devaluation of the dollar had a strong effect on the financial markets., currency devaluation h…

noun

The action of reducing the rate at which money can be exchanged for foreign money

Usage examples:

Devaluation of the devaluation of the dollar had a strong effect on the financial markets., currenc…

verb

Make or become less.

Usage examples:

The new law is expected to diminish the government's chances

verb

To reduce or be reduced in size or importance

Usage examples:

[ i ] the threat of inflation is diminishing., [ t ] a single-payer system would diminish the burea…

verb

To reduce or be reduced in size, importance, or value

Usage examples:

If consumers start losing confidence, it will diminish demand for household goods., investors can d…

verb

Make or become less.

Usage examples:

The new law is expected to diminish the government's chances

verb

Present participle of diminish

Usage examples:

I don't want to diminish her achievements, but she did have a lot of help., these memories will not…

verb

To reduce or be reduced in size or importance

Usage examples:

I don't want to diminish her achievements, but she did have a lot of help., these memories will not…

noun

A reduction in the size, extent, or importance of something.

Usage examples:

A permanent diminution in value

noun

Reduction in size or importance

Usage examples:

Diminution in regular exercise can result in a general diminution in stress levels., the company su…

noun

The feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration or respect.

Usage examples:

Her upper lip curled in disdain

verb

Consider to be unworthy of one's consideration.

Usage examples:

He disdained his patients as an inferior rabble

noun

Dislike of someone or something that you feel does not deserve your interest or respect

Usage examples:

The mayor’s disdain for his opponents was well known., he disdains the flashy trappings of many dix…

verb

Order or allow to leave; send away.

Usage examples:

She dismissed the taxi at the corner of the road

verb

To decide that something or someone is not important and not worth considering

Usage examples:

Let’s not dismiss the idea without discussing it., the teacher dismissed the class early.

verb

To remove someone from their job, especially because they have done something wrong

Usage examples:

Dismiss sb for sth salespeople may be dismissed for many reasons, the most common of which is poor …

noun

Another term for downturn.

noun

A downturn

Usage examples:

She predicted that the gdp will fall only moderately during the downswing in the economic cycle.

noun

A downturn

Usage examples:

She predicted that the gdp will fall only moderately during the downswing in the economic cycle.

noun

A decline in economic, business, or other activity.

Usage examples:

A downturn in the housing market

noun

A reduction in the amount or success of something

Usage examples:

A downturn in car sales

noun

A reduction in the amount or success of something, such as a country's economic activity

Usage examples:

Economic/market downturn thousands of workers have lost their jobs in the economic downturn., there…

verb

Let or make (something) fall vertically.

Usage examples:

The fire was caused by someone dropping a lighted cigarette

noun

A small round or pear-shaped portion of liquid that hangs or falls or adheres to a surface.

Usage examples:

The first drops of rain splashed on the ground

verb

Let fall to the ground

verb

Diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength.

Usage examples:

Traffic has dwindled to a trickle

verb

To become less in number or smaller

Usage examples:

The community had dwindled to a tenth of its former size.

verb

To gradually become less, smaller, or lower in level

Usage examples:

Dwindle from sth to sth the municipality's population has dwindled from 40,000 to 24,000., dwindlin…

adjective

Gradually diminishing in size, amount, or strength.

Usage examples:

Dwindling resources

verb

Diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength.

Usage examples:

Traffic has dwindled to a trickle

adjective

Gradually becoming smaller in size or amount, or fewer in number

Usage examples:

She is one of a dwindling number of people who was alive in 1918., in baltimore the city's dwindlin…

noun

The movement of the tide out to sea.

Usage examples:

The tide was on the ebb

verb

(of tidewater) move away from the land; recede.

Usage examples:

The tide began to ebb

verb

When the sea or tide ebbs, it moves away from the coast and falls to a lower level.

verb

Gradually grow faint and disappear.

Usage examples:

The light had faded and dusk was advancing

noun

The process of becoming less bright.

Usage examples:

The sun can cause colour fade

noun

A shot causing the ball to deviate to the right (or, for a left-handed golfer, the left)

Usage examples:

When they get to the 18th the ideal shot is a fade

verb

Move from a higher to a lower level, typically rapidly and without control.

Usage examples:

Five inches of snow fell through the night

noun

An act of falling or collapsing.

Usage examples:

His mother had a fall as she alighted from a train

verb

Descend freely under the influence of gravity

phrasal verb

Come off

phrasal verb

To become less in number, amount, or quality

Usage examples:

Production fell off last month.

phrasal verb

To get lower in amount or level

Usage examples:

Orders have definitely fallen off in the past quarter., a fall-off in sth the company blamed the fa…

verb

Go without (something desirable).

Usage examples:

She wanted to forgo the tea and leave while they could

verb

To give up or do without

Usage examples:

She decided to forgo flowers at the funeral and asked people to send money to a charity instead.

verb

To not have or do something enjoyable

Usage examples:

Forgo the pleasure of i shall have to forgo the pleasure of seeing you this week.

verb

Make or become less; diminish.

Usage examples:

The years have lessened the gap in age between us

verb

To become or make something smaller in amount or degree

Usage examples:

[ t ] keeping your weight down can lessen the risk of heart disease.

verb

To make something smaller, less noticeable, etc., or to become smaller, less noticeable, etc.

Usage examples:

Corporate executives are keen to embrace "green technology" in order to lessen their dependence on …

verb

Make or become less; diminish.

Usage examples:

The years have lessened the gap in age between us

verb

Present participle of lessen

Usage examples:

A healthy diet can lessen the risk of heart disease.

noun

The action of moving someone or something in a downward direction.

Usage examples:

Conditions do not allow the lowering of a rescue boat

adjective

(of the sky) dark and threatening.

Usage examples:

A day of lowering cloud

verb

Move (someone or something) in a downward direction.

Usage examples:

He watched the coffin being lowered into the ground

noun

A steep downward plunge by an aircraft.

Usage examples:

The pilot put the plane in a nosedive and ejected

verb

(of an aircraft) make a nosedive.

Usage examples:

The plane nosedived into the ground and exploded

noun

(esp. of an aircraft) a fast and sudden fall to the ground with the front pointing down

Usage examples:

Fig. stock prices took a nosedive (= a sudden fall in value)., fig. profits nosedived in the last q…

verb

Fall or drop straight down at high speed.

Usage examples:

A climber was killed when he plummeted 300 feet down an icy gully

noun

A steep and rapid fall or drop.

Usage examples:

The bird has a circular display flight followed by an earthward plummet

verb

To fall very quickly and suddenly

Usage examples:

Temperatures plummeted last night., the parachute failed to open and he plummeted to the ground.

verb

Jump or dive quickly and energetically.

Usage examples:

Our little daughters whooped as they plunged into the sea

noun

An act of jumping or diving into water.

Usage examples:

Fanatics went straight from the hot room to take a cold plunge

verb

Dash violently or with great speed or impetuosity

verb

Reject (someone or something) in an abrupt or ungracious manner.

Usage examples:

I asked her to be my wife, and was rebuffed in no uncertain terms

noun

An abrupt or ungracious rejection of an offer, request, or friendly gesture.

Usage examples:

His reserve was not intended as a rebuff

verb

To refuse to accept a suggestion, a request for help, or an offer to help, often in an unfriendly way

Usage examples:

Our request for assistance has been rebuffed., boren’s idea took a sharp rebuff.

verb

Make smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.

Usage examples:

The need for businesses to reduce costs

verb

Make smaller

verb

To make something less in size, amount, degree, importance, or price

Usage examples:

A low-fat diet can reduce the risk of heart disease., grunn employs 17,900 people, but that number …

noun

The action or fact of making something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.

Usage examples:

Talks on arms reduction

verb

Indicate or show that one is not willing to do something.

Usage examples:

I refused to answer

noun

Matter thrown away or rejected as worthless; rubbish.

Usage examples:

Heaps of refuse

verb

Dismiss as inadequate, unacceptable, or faulty.

Usage examples:

Union negotiators rejected a 1.5 per cent pay award

noun

A person or thing dismissed as inadequate or unacceptable.

Usage examples:

Some of the team's rejects have gone on to prove themselves in championships

verb

To refuse to accept, use, or believe something or someone

Usage examples:

The school rejects a third of all applicants., as a child, she had felt rejected by her mother., in…

verb

Refuse to accept; reject.

Usage examples:

She has repudiated policies associated with previous party leaders

verb

To refuse to accept or obey something or someone; reject

Usage examples:

The evidence presented at the trial has since been repudiated., the election results were a repudia…

verb

To decide that an agreement is no longer effective and that you will not do what it says you must do

Usage examples:

Repudiate a contract/agreement failure to deliver on time will entitle the buyer to repudiate the c…

verb

Drive back (an attack or attacker) by force.

Usage examples:

Rioters tried to storm the ministry but were repulsed by police

noun

The action of driving back an attack or of being driven back.

Usage examples:

The repulse of the invaders

verb

Force or drive back

verb

Become or make smaller in size or amount.

Usage examples:

The workforce shrank to a thousand

noun

A psychiatrist.

Usage examples:

You should see a shrink

verb

To become smaller or cause something to become smaller

Usage examples:

[ i ] the show’s audience has shrunk in the last few months., [ t ] i shrank my sweater by putting …

verb

Go down below the surface of something, especially of a liquid; become submerged.

Usage examples:

He saw the coffin sink below the surface of the waves

noun

A fixed basin with a water supply and outflow pipe.

Usage examples:

I stood at the kitchen sink

noun

Fall or descend to a lower place or level

verb

Make or become slack.

Usage examples:

He slackened his grip

verb

Present participle of slacken

Usage examples:

Slacken the reins or you'll hurt the horse's mouth., he stooped to pick it up, without slackening h…

verb

Sit, lean, or fall heavily and limply.

Usage examples:

She slumped against the cushions

noun

A sudden severe or prolonged fall in the price, value, or amount of something.

Usage examples:

A slump in profits

verb

To fall heavily and suddenly

Usage examples:

She slumped to the floor in a faint., the old man slumped in his chair, asleep., we both slumped ag…

verb

Reject with disdain or contempt.

Usage examples:

He spoke gruffly, as if afraid that his invitation would be spurned

noun

An act of spurning.

Usage examples:

It is a spurn of god's sovereignty, and a slight of his goodness

verb

Reject with contempt

verb

Lay hold of (something) with one's hands; reach for and hold.

Usage examples:

Mrs morgan took another biscuit

noun

A scene or sequence of sound or vision photographed or recorded continuously at one time.

Usage examples:

He completed a particularly difficult scene in two takes

verb

Get into one's hands

verb

Fall suddenly, clumsily, or headlong.

Usage examples:

She pitched forward, tumbling down the remaining stairs

noun

A sudden or headlong fall.

Usage examples:

I took a tumble in the nettles

verb

Fall down, as if collapsing

verb

(of the moon) have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size.

Usage examples:

Tory tried to see her reflection, but the moon was waning, the stars obscured by clouds.

noun

The amount by which a plank or log is bevelled or falls short of a squared shape.

Usage examples:

I cut the log into slabs without removing the outside wane

verb

(of the moon) have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size.

Usage examples:

Tory tried to see her reflection, but the moon was waning, the stars obscured by clouds.

noun

The amount by which a plank or log is bevelled or falls short of a squared shape.

Usage examples:

I cut the log into slabs without removing the outside wane

verb

Present participle of wane

Usage examples:

By the late 70s the band's popularity was beginning to wane.