decline
verb (used with object)
to withhold or deny consent to do, enter into or upon, etc.; refuse.
declining
-
present participleof decline.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Carney was asked Thursday about the prospect of Canada joining the EU and delivered what he termed a "non-answer," declining to rule out the idea or endorse it.
From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026
Nor has any published research addressed the connection between recent ectopic pregnancy death rates and untreated infections like gonorrhea and chlamydia, which increased substantially during the first years of the pandemic before declining again.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
Bumblebee Conservation Trust raised concerns that 2026 may exacerbate a declining trend in bumblebee populations as flowers wither and bees fail to forage effectively.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026
That ignored the cost to buy declining assets and replace the earnings stream after it was gone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
Clearly, the force must in some sense be inverse—that is, declining with distance.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
