decline
verb (used with object)
to withhold or deny consent to do, enter into or upon, etc.; refuse.
had been declining
-
past perfect progressiveof decline.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
Adjusted operating margin had been declining, but in the fourth quarter rose to 45% from 43% the previous quarter.
From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026
AI computing costs had been declining around 90% every seven months, a dynamic akin to Moore’s Law for microchips, giving AI companies reason to believe their price-performance ratio will improve.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2025
The report found standards in YOIs had been declining for 10 years, due to poor leadership and a lack of cooperation with education providers.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2024
Residents say the building had been declining for some time and got worse in recent months.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2024
She went to bed before us, when her mamma informed me that her health had been declining for some months; that she never complained, but studiously concealed every symptom of indisposition.
From The Coquette The History of Eliza Wharton by Hannah Webster Foster
