decline
verb (used with object)
to withhold or deny consent to do, enter into or upon, etc.; refuse.
had declined
-
past perfectof decline.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
The single biggest driver was a $553 billion actuarial gain, meaning the present value of promises owed to employees had declined.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
Treasury paper had declined over the past decade to 23% from roughly 33%.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
Last year, it was reported that the number of American readers had declined by 40% over the previous two decades.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
But when presenting the findings of her review at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Nottingham, Ockenden admitted there were "gaps" in knowledge because some senior managers had declined to take part.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
He had declined the sauteed new greens, the tender and expensive leaves of bean plants plucked before the sprouts turn into beans.
From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
