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
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent maintained that underlying inflation had been declining before the Iran conflict and would resume that pattern after one or two more months of higher prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
Greg Ceely, head of population health monitoring at the ONS, said total fertility rates had been declining since 2010 but was particularly notable in some age groups.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2024
Residents say the building had been declining for some time and got worse in recent months.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2024
During the whole of 1835 his health had been declining: his symptoms became unequivocally those of pulmonary consumption, and after lingering to the last stage of debility, he died on the 23rd of June, 1836.
From Autobiography by Mill, John Stuart
