decline
gb/dɪklˈaɪn/ us/dɪklˈaɪn/
B1
English
~ 2500
visszautasít, nem fogad el, romlik, hanyatlik, leromlik, leépül, hanyatlás, csökkenés, csökken
VERB
B1
1
visszautasít
B1
nem fogad el
B1
Usage pattern:
to decline [an offer/invitation/request]
She declined the invitation to the party.
Nem fogadta el a partira szóló meghívást.
He politely declined their offer of help.
Udvariasan visszautasította a felajánlott segítségüket.
The company declined our request for more time.
Learner examples
I must decline your invitation.
Sajnos nem tudom elfogadni a meghívását.
She declined the job offer.
Visszautasította az állásajánlatot.
He politely declined my help.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'decline' with 'deny'. 'Deny' means to say something is not true, while 'decline' means to refuse politely.
Meaning
Politely refuse something
Collocations
decline an invitation
|decline an offer
|politely decline
Synonyms
refuse (More general and can sound stronger or less polite depending on tone.)
|
turn down (Informal equivalent often used in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
accept (Means to agree to an offer or invitation instead of refusing it.)
Themes
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To say no to something in a polite way.
To say no to an offer, invitation, or suggestion in a courteous way.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[something] declines
Her health began to decline after the accident.
A baleset után romlani kezdett az egészsége.
The company's profits have declined over the past year.
A vállalat nyereségessége romlott az elmúlt évben.
Interest in the product is declining.
Learner examples
My health is declining.
Romlik az egészségem.
Sales are declining this year.
Idén romlanak az eladási eredmények.
The old building is declining.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'decline' with 'decrease'. 'Decrease' is more about numbers or amounts; 'decline' can refer to quality or strength too.
Meaning
Decrease in quality or condition
Collocations
decline in health
|economic decline
|decline sharply
Synonyms
deteriorate (Used especially for quality, condition, or performance getting worse.)
Antonyms
improve (Means to get better instead of worse.)
Themes
health
|economy
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
To slowly get worse or weaker.
To gradually become worse, weaker, or less valuable.
NOUN
B2
3
There has been a steady decline in sales.
Folyamatos csökkenés tapasztalható az eladásokban.
The town went into decline after the factory closed.
A város hanyatlásnak indult, miután bezárt a gyár.
He is showing signs of mental decline.
Learner examples
There is a decline in jobs.
Csökken a munkahelyek száma.
The country is in decline.
Az ország hanyatlásban van.
Her health is in decline.
Meaning
Gradual worsening or loss
Collocations
a steady decline
|economic decline
|in decline
Synonyms
downturn (Often used for economic or business contexts.)
|
deterioration (General term for becoming worse over time.)
Antonyms
growth (Means an increase or improvement instead of reduction.)
Themes
economy
|health
|core_vocabulary
|finance
Definition
A slow process of becoming worse or weaker.
A slow loss of strength, quality, value, or importance.
VERB
B2
FORMAL
4
csökken
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] declines by/from/to [number/amount]
The population has declined by 5% since last year.
A népesség tavaly óta 5%-kal csökkent.
Crime rates have declined sharply.
A bűnözési mutatók meredeken csökkentek.
Attendance at the event declined from 500 to 300.
Learner examples
Prices declined last month.
Múlt hónapban csökkentek az árak.
The number of visitors declined.
Csökkent a látogatók száma.
Crime rates declined this year.
Meaning
Decrease in amount or intensity
Collocations
population decline
|decline by 10 percent
|crime rates decline
Synonyms
drop (More informal and general for a decrease.)
|
fall (Common for quantities and prices going down.)
Antonyms
rise (Means to increase in number, amount, or intensity.)
Themes
statistics
|science
|core_vocabulary
|finance
Definition
To become fewer, smaller, or less strong over time.
To reduce in number, amount, level, or intensity over time.
Grammar
Dictionary form
decline
IPA
GB/dɪklˈaɪn/
US/dɪklˈaɪn/
Syllables & stress
de - cline (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cline)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: decline
- Plural: declines
Verb
- Base: decline
- 3rd Person Singular: declines
- Present Participle: declining
- Past: declined
Word family
Forms
declines
noun
declining
verb
declined
verb
Advanced or less common
declination
noun C1
Expressions
in decline
1/ˈɪn dɪklˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
Becoming worse over time
Getting worse slowly over time.
Examples
- The industry has been in decline for years.
- Her physical abilities are in decline.
on the decline
1/ˈɔn ðə dɪklˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
Currently getting worse or less popular
Getting worse or less popular now.
Examples
- Interest in the sport is on the decline.
- The number of new cases is on the decline.